HF3351

Purpose

This bill shifts some gun regulation authority from the state to local governments. It repeals several state rules that kept local governments from regulating firearms, and it creates a narrow permission for localities to use zoning to control where firearms dealers can be located.

Main provisions

• Local zoning permission for firearms dealers:

  • The bill adds a provision allowing a governmental subdivision (such as a city or county) to regulate the location of businesses where firearms are sold by a firearms dealer, using reasonable, nondiscriminatory and nonarbitrary zoning rules.
  • A firearms dealer is defined as a person who is federally licensed to sell firearms.

• Repeal of key preemption provisions:

  • The bill repeals several statutes that previously prevented local governments from regulating firearms, ammunition, or their components. Specifically, it repeals sections that formerly barred local regulation and that defined how localities could or could not regulate these items.

• Repeal of related carry and ammunition rules:

  • The bill repeals certain statutes related to carrying weapons without a permit, the exclusive rules for carrying permits, and local regulation of ammunition and its components. This means those previously state-controlled areas would no longer be governed by those specific provisions that are being repealed.

Significant changes to existing law

• Local control expands in one area:

  • Local governments would gain the ability to use zoning to influence where firearms dealers can be located, instead of being blocked by statewide preemption.

• Statewide preemption removed in several areas:

  • The broad statewide limit on local gun regulation is repealed, along with some associated definitions and rules about regulation of schools, school grounds, and school-related activities.

• Remaining regulatory framework (context):

  • While this bill removes some preemption, it also repeals certain sections that previously set standards for carrying permits and for ammunition regulation. The practical effect on local control of carrying firearms and ammunition would depend on what replaces those sections or how other laws apply.

Potential implications

• For residents and communities:

  • Cities and counties could shape where gun shops can operate through zoning decisions, potentially affecting businesses and local safety strategies.
  • Local authorities might gain more room to address local concerns about firearms in public spaces through zoning and related regulations.

• For gun businesses:

  • Firearms dealers could face new local zoning constraints on where they can locate their shops.

Summary of key terms from the bill text

• preemption
• local government / governmental subdivision
• zoning ordinances
• firearms dealer
• federally licensed
• repeal
• statute sections (471.633, 471.634, 471.635, 624.714, 624.717, 624.7191)
• ammunition
• carrying permits
• local regulation
• metal-penetrating bullets
• Saturday night specials
• school districts (carve-out context)

Relevant Terms preemption; local government; governmental subdivision; zoning ordinances; firearms dealer; federally licensed; repeal; Minnesota Statutes; local regulation; carrying permits; ammunition; metal-penetrating bullets; Saturday night specials; school districts