Hello all. I'll be moving to the St. Paul area in late August / early September (my wife got a new job there!) and need to know the following:

1. Will I need to 'register' any guns I am bringing with me? Take 'register' as broadly as possible here. Does anyone need to be told what weapons I am bringing into the state with me? I don't have any class 3 weapons, just handguns, shotguns, & rifles.

2. When I buy a new handgun in MN, is it officially registered with any state body? Are records kept of the sale that could someday be used as a sort of "back door" registration?

3. Same question regarding shotguns...

4. Same question regarding rifles, be they bolt, semi-auto, or "assault weapons"...

The reason for the questions is that I'm currently living in MS, and I don't believe that anything gets registered here. So, if some type, style, or class of weapon does get registered, or if records of the sale are kept long-term / permanently in MN, I'd prefer to know now so that I can buy those guns I'm interested in while I'm still here in MS.

NOTE: I did search a bit for this info already but couldn't find it. I'm not saying it isn't here, only that I didn't see it. I'll be more than happy to follow any links that might be provided if that is easier than writing out a response - I just need the info! Also, the question didn't really seem to fit neatly into any of the forums, so feel free to move it if necessary.

Thanks all for any help you can provide!

AFAIK, no registry as you bring them in.
Currently there's nothing other than the 4473 when a gun is purchased at a dealer.
We do have transferee permits which are required to buy handguns and "Military style Semi-Automatic Rifles". Doesn't list or limit the number of firearms purchased, just required to buy them from the dealer. These are attained from the local PD. 7-10 day turnaround and are good for a year.
Alternately, our carry permit functions as a purchase / transferee permit.

Smart private party sellers are going to ask to see a transferee permit or carry permit before selling to you since it's illegal to sell to a prohibited person. CYA kind of thing.

There are laws proposed in the current legislative session which will require all firearms transfers to be handled at a FLL. Private or commercial, makes no difference.
There's also a provision for a transfer Database to be kept by the Dept of Public Safety. This IS a back door gun registry. We're actively opposing this.

First off, welcom to the forum and MN. I will start with IANAL.
1. Will I need to 'register' any guns I am bringing with me? NO

2. When I buy a new handgun in MN, is it officially registered with any state body? Not suppose to be and not officially/NO if it purchased privately

3. Same question regarding shotguns... same as above

4. Same question regarding rifles, be they bolt, semi-auto, or "assault weapons"... same as above

plblark-

Thank you very much for all the info!

Just so I'm clear, as it stands now I don't need a 'permit to purchase' or a carry permit to buy any type of shotgun? I am planning to get one for home defense & I will be buying one with the extended magazine and I know that makes it an "assault weapon" in some states.

And, no matter what type of gun, the current law doesn't provide for a description of the gun of any kind, other than what the 4473 requires?

Any idea when a vote will be taken on the back door registration laws currently being proposed?

Is there anything I can do now as a future resident to help persuade those in power to vote against these bills?

Thanks again for the help!

plblark,
You beat me to the post. I was taking phone calls between typing.

jaysong-

Thanks to you as well!

I'd rather wait until after I move to MN to buy most, if not all of the guns I'm interested in, simply so as to have my cash available for the unexpected expenses that always come up during a move. It looks like there won't be any advantage to buying before leaving MS, so long as the bills plblark mentioned don't pass. Does this sound right to you? All I should have to do is pay attention to those bills, and if they don't pass (or aren't yet passed / implemented prior to my arrival in MN), then I should be able to purchase any guns I might want once in MN, without worrying about there being a record kept of what I actually bought, right?

One other thing - just to confirm, there is no limit to the number of guns I can purchase at any one time, assuming I have a 'permit to purchase' or a carry permit, right?

Thanks again!

Sounds about right to me. You could call my favorite local gunshop to ask as well.

Bill's Gun Shop and Range - Circle Pines - (763) 792-4867

as to the bills in question, they're discussed here:

http://www.twincitiescarry.com/forum/vi ... php?t=7880

No, no, no, and no. For now.

JGalt, welcome to the forum and to Minnesota! You must have came over here from the DefensiveCarry.com forum. I'm the same Lenny7 that sent you over here.

Yup, that'd be me
I've refined the question I'd posted on DC, so I figured I'd come straight to the experts here for my answers, rather than asking a national forum...

Thanks for letting me know about this site - I've lurked for a couple of weeks and it is pretty darned nice!

Ayn Rand fan?


edit: either I am blind or thats a new sig...

Never heard of her. What would give you the idea I was a fan...?

Welcome aboard

Suggest your first gun priority when settled in is to get your carry permit (wife also) Check the training section for class dates and locations. As mentioned earlier it doubles as a purchase permit.

If I can get my Utah permit before leaving MS, then adding the MN permit will merely be near the top of my to-do list. If I can't, then it'll be 2nd on my list behind setting up my bed! If this is the case, I'll be looking to take a class (hopefully) within a few days of my arrival.

So, it'll happen either immediately upon arrival, or within a month or two.

As for my wife, she is completely supportive, and will get her permit at some point, but she is totally uninterested for right now. She's actually a professor, and while I know it's legal for her to carry on campus, she's really looking forward to this job & doesn't want to get fired!

That leads me to another question - two of them actually:

1. Is there any requirement for 'establishing residency' in MN before I am able to apply for & receive a permit? Will a copy of my signed lease be enough to prove my residency? I know it is possible to get a non-resident permit, but I won't be up there physically until I actually arrive with all of our stuff, so that's kind of a non-starter for me.

2. Are there any restrictions on carrying OC in MN? Specifically, does anyone know if OC is considered a 'weapon' on university campuses? If not, then that is what my wife will stick with. If yes, then, well, let's just hope the answer is no...

Thanks again!

Or check the sig line under the post made by instructors. Maybe it is just me, but I very rarely post my classes because I am in the southern Minnesota area.

Welcome.