MN permits to carry issued in Past 5 Years

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The Minnesota Department of Public Safety issued 41,493 permits to carry in 2014, down nearly one-third from the number of permits issued in 2013. As of January 31, 2015, the total number of valid permits in Minnesota is 194,905.

That number was one of several worth noting from the annual permit to carry report issued by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The report, compiled from statistics gathered from Sheriff's Departments across the state, says 41,493 people were granted permits, down from 60,471 in 2013. Hennepin County sits atop the list with 5,279 permits issued, followed by Anoka, Dakota and Ramsey counties.

Statewide statistics indicate that 15 permits suspended, 6 revoked, 22 voided and 422 permit requests denied in 2014.

Report of valid permits for applications received from 05/01/2003 to 4/30/2015 and valid on or before 4/30/2015 for all the counties.

As of January 31, 2015, the total number of valid permits in Minnesota is 194,905.

Crimes committed by permit holders

Minnesota law enforcement agencies reported that individuals with permits to carry committed 1,320 crimes in 2014. More than half were DWI's or other traffic offenses.

Minnesota's Personal Protection Act was enacted in 2003, and 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.

Law enforcement agencies are then required to report their data on gun permit applications, permits issued and denied to the BCA. The BCA then compiles the public information provided by Minnesota law enforcement agencies into its annual report.

Permit to carry law in Minnesota

Under Minnesota law, a permit is required to carry a handgun in public. There is nothing written in the law regarding whether or not the gun must be concealed. State law also requires a permit to carry applicants to show evidence of certified training in the safe use of a handgun within one year of an original application or renewal.

Permits issues in past 5 years

2014: 41,493
2013: 60,471
2012: 31,657
2011: 20,772
2010: 17,240

Top 5 counties with permits to carry issued in 2014

Hennepin: 5,279
Anoka: 2,951
Dakota: 2,691
Ramsey: 2,415
St. Louis: 2,263

Permits denied

There were 15 permits suspended, 6 revoked, 22 voided and 422 denied in 2014, according to sheriff's reports.

Crimes committed by permit holders

Individuals with permits to carry committed 1,320 crimes in 2014, according to reports from law enforcement. Only 20 of those crimes involved the use of a pistol to commit the crime, while more than half of these crimes were DWIs or other traffic offenses that had nothing to do with firearms.