
Minnesota has enacted modest gun safety measures in recent years, but is still missing a number of lifesaving policies that can combat gun violence in the state.
While the state prohibits most people subject to domestic violence court orders or convictions from owning guns, it does not require background checks on gun purchases between private individuals. In 2021, Minnesota had the ninth lowest gun death rate among the states. Minnesota also supplied crime guns to other states at less than half the national rate, and the state imported nearly twice as many crime guns than it exported.
What Minnesota Does Well
- Certain assault weapon restrictions
- Certain domestic violence gun laws
- Certain waiting period laws
- Certain open carry regulations
- Child access prevention laws
- Disarming procedures
- Partial handgun dealer regulation
- Ammunition sale regulation
- Extreme risk protection orders
What Minnesota Is Missing
- Universal background checks
- Gun owner licensing
- Large capacity magazine ban
- Strong concealed carry law
- Lost & stolen firearm reporting
- Community violence intervention funding
- Bulk firearm purchase restrictions

SPOTLIGHT
GUN LAW SCORECARD
The data is clear: states with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.
Read MoreEXPLORE MINNESOTA’S GUN LAWS
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OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
GUNS IN PUBLIC
HARDWARE & AMMUNITION
OTHER LAWS & POLICIES
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We’re in this together. To build a safer America—one where children and parents in every neighborhood can learn, play, work, and worship without fear of gun violence—we need you standing beside us in this fight.
