ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) today released the 2023 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 saw approximately the same number of firearms permits issued in 2023 as in 2022. Minnesota sheriffs reported to the BCA that 77,952 permits were applied for and that they issued 65,215 permits in 2023.
| Year | Permits issued |
| 2023 | 65,215 |
| 2022 | 65,257 |
| 2021 | 106,488 |
| 2020 | 96,554 |
| 2019 | 51,404 |
| 2018 | 66,053 |
The top five counties for five-year permits issued by sheriffs in 2023 are:
| County | Permits issued |
| Hennepin | 7,363 |
| Anoka | 4,819 |
| Dakota | 4,199 |
| Washington | 3,564 |
| Ramsey | 3,524 |
Sheriffs reported there were 222 permits suspended, 51 revoked, 1,307 voided and 789 denied in 2023.
Crimes committed by permit holders
Minnesota sheriffs reported that individuals with permits committed 4,701 crimes in 2023. 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 percent) was consistent with recent prior years.
- Just over 3 percent were crimes where firearms were used in furtherance of a crime.
- Just under 60 percent were DWIs or other traffic offenses.
- Fifteen 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 402,520.
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.
The full report is available for viewing on the BCA website at https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-divisions/administrative/Pages/firearms.aspx.
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