MN Sets Record For Total Firearm Permits Issued In 2020

MINNESOTA — Both the number of Minnesotans licensed to carry a gun, and the number of licensed firearm carriers who committed crimes, grew to record levels in 2020, according to state data.

Last year, sheriff's offices across the state issued 96,554 permits to carry, up from 51,404 in 2019, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The record set in 2020 also surpassed the previous five-year high of 71,156 permits, set in 2016.

The department of public safety said 101,897 applications for firearm permits were submitted by Minnesotans in 2020. Of those, 1,191 were denied, 103 were suspended, 36 were revoked and 968 were voided.

Five Minnesota counties led the state in most permits issued, with Hennepin County residents accounting for over 11 percent of the permits issued statewide in 2020.

• Hennepin County — 11,346 permits issued
• Dakota County — 7,754 permits issued
• Anoka County — 7,326 permits issued
• Ramsey County — 5,990 permits issued
• Washington County — 5,679 permits issued

According to the BCA, sheriff's offices across Minnesota reported some 3,110 people with permits to carry committed crimes in 2020, the highest number since the state enacted the Personal Protection Act in 2003.

Guns were involved in less than 2 percent of the crimes, according to the BCA. Meanwhile, over 51 percent of crimes committed by permit holders were DWIs or other traffic offenses, and 30 percent fell into the "other" category that includes less serious offenses like city ordinance violations and hunting, fishing and recreational vehicle violations.

As it stands, 358,897 firearm permits are valid in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety requires that residents hoping to gain a permit to carry submit an application to their local sheriff's office and provide proof of approved firearms training.

Before issuing a permit, the sheriff's office is required to check FBI, BCA and DHS records along with their own local data. Sheriffs have 30 days to approve or deny an application.