1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to firearms; authorizing the use of silencers
1.3 	to muffle discharges of firearms for natural resource
1.4 	wildlife control; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004,
1.5 	section 609.66, subdivisions 1h, 2.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.66,
1.8 	subdivision 1h, is amended to read:
1.9 		Subd. 1h.Silencers; authorized for law enforcement and
1.10 	natural resource wildlife control purposes.  Notwithstanding
1.11 	subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), licensed peace
1.12 	officers and natural resource officers may use devices designed
1.13 	to silence or muffle the discharge of a firearm for tactical
1.14 	emergency response operations.  Tactical emergency response
1.15 	operations include execution of high risk search and arrest
1.16 	warrants, incidents of terrorism, hostage rescue, and any other
1.17 	tactical deployments involving high risk circumstances.  The
1.18 	chief law enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency that
1.19 	has the need to use silencing devices must establish and enforce
1.20 	a written policy governing the use of the devices.

1.21 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.66,
1.22 	subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.23 		Subd. 2.Exceptions.  Nothing in this section prohibits:
1.24 	(1) the possession of the articles mentioned by museums or
1.25 	collectors of art or for other lawful purposes of public
2.1 	exhibition; and 
2.2 	(2) the possession, use, and transportation of a silencer
2.3 	by a government natural resource management agency for the
2.4 	purpose of wildlife control.  The principle director of each
2.5 	natural resource management agency that has a need to use
2.6 	silencing devices must establish and enforce a written policy
2.7 	governing the use of the devices.