Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 2024 ‘Gun Dealers in Minnesota.’ Gun Sales. San Francisco, CA: Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 18 April
Relevant contents
Dealer Regulations in Minnesota
Federal law requires firearms dealers to obtain a license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), although resource limitations prevent the ATF from properly overseeing all its licensees.
Minnesota does not license firearms dealers. However, firearms dealers are subject to state laws governing gun sales generally…
Pursuant to the Brady Act, federally licensed firearms dealers must conduct background checks on prospective purchasers each time the dealer transfers a firearm.
Minnesota requires small firearms dealers (dealers displaying 50 handguns or less for sale at a time) to secure all handguns in a locked safe, locked steel gun cabinet or on a locked, steel cable that runs through the handgun's trigger guards, after business hours. The safe, gun cabinet, rod or cable must be anchored to prevent its removal from the premises.
In addition, the Commissioner of Public Safety ("Commissioner") is required to adopt standards for minimum security requirements for all firearms dealers. The standards may provide for:
- Alarm systems for all firearms dealers;
- Necessary and effective security measures required for large firearms dealers (dealers displaying more than 50 handguns for sale at any time);
- A system of inspections, during normal business hours, by local law enforcement for compliance with the standards; and
- Other reasonable requirements necessary and effective to reduce the risk of burglaries at firearms dealers' business establishments.
The Commissioner has issued firearms dealer security standards that describe the required alarm system and other mandatory security features, prescribe the manner in which handguns may be stored, and require the availability of the business for inspection by local law enforcement. A firearms dealer may request an exemption from these requirements.
Minnesota requires federally licensed firearms dealers to post signs conspicuously on their premises with the following warning: "IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR LEAVE A LOADED FIREARM WHERE A CHILD CAN OBTAIN ACCESS."
Licensed dealers in Minnesota must comply with Minnesota's waiting period law…
Minnesota prohibits federally licensed dealers from selling a "Saturday Night Special Pistol."…
[Editor's note: The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence regularly updates its webpages with new data as US gun regulation evolves state by state. For the most up-to-date information on US gun laws, please refer to the Giffords URL below]
Last accessed at:
https://giffords.org/lawcenter/state-laws/gun-dealers-in-minnesota/