ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) today released the 2021 Permit to Carry Report, which contains data submitted by Minnesota law enforcement agencies regarding applications made for handgun carry permits as well as data about permit holders. The annual report is required by Minnesota law.
Minnesota sheriffs issued more firearms permits in 2021 than in any other year since the state’s Personal Protection Act was enacted. Minnesota sheriffs reported to the BCA that 110,078 permits were applied for and that they issued 106,488 permits in 2021.
Year
| Permits Issued
|
2021
| 106,488
|
2020
| 96,554
|
2019
| 51,404
|
2018
| 66,053
|
2017
| 55,069
|
2016
| 71,156
|
The top five counties for five-year permits issued by sheriffs in 2021 are:
County
| Permits Issued
|
Hennepin
| 16,888
|
Ramsey
| 7,467
|
Anoka
| 6,988
|
Dakota
| 6,744
|
Washington
| 5,761
|
Sheriffs reported there were 176 permits suspended, 40 revoked, 1,165 voided and 1,627 denied in 2021.
Crimes committed by permit holders
Minnesota sheriffs reported that individuals with permits committed 3,863 crimes in 2021. This is the highest number since the state’s Personal Protection Act was enacted but the percent of permit holders who committed a crime (1%) was consistent with recent prior years.
- Just over 2 percent were crimes where firearms were used in furtherance of a crime.
- More than 61percent were DWI’s or other traffic offenses.
- 19 percent were from the “Other” category which includes both less serious offenses such as city ordinance violations and DNR hunting, fishing and recreational vehicle violations and less common but more serious offenses such as stalking and riot.
As of today, the total number of valid permits in Minnesota is 387,013.
The Permit to Carry Report contains data on permits to carry a firearm. Minnesota does not track permits to purchase firearms.
About the Minnesota Permit to Carry
Minnesota’s Personal Protection Act was first enacted in 2003. Permits were first eligible for renewal in 2008. Individuals wishing to obtain a Minnesota Permit to Carry must apply for the permit at their local sheriff’s office and provide proof of approved firearms training. Sheriffs then must follow a statutorily-defined process, checking FBI, BCA and DHS records as well as their own data for any disqualifying information. Individuals denied a permit have the right to appeal the denial.
Minnesota sheriffs are then required under Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. §624.714, subd. 20 (b)) to report their data on gun permit applications, issuances and denials to the BCA. As directed by same statute, the BCA compiles the public information provided by Minnesota sheriffs into its annual report.
About the Minnesota Department Public Safety
DPS comprises 10 divisions where 2,100 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.
About the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension provides investigative and specialized law enforcement services to prevent and solve crimes in partnership with law enforcement, public safety and criminal justice agencies. Services include criminal justice training, forensic laboratory analysis, criminal histories and investigations.
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