HF3407

Purpose

• The bill aims to curb the creation, possession, sale, and distribution of ghost guns (firearms without serial numbers) and to limit the use of 3D printing and other non-FFL methods to produce guns. It also requires serial numbers on firearms, outlines rules for assembling and manufacturing guns, restricts the sharing of design files that could be used to make ghost guns, and includes deadlines for education and compliance. It repeals a prior Minnesota law related to removing or altering firearm serial numbers.

Key Definitions

• Ghost gun: a firearm or unfinished frame/receiver that lacks a unique serial number, is undetectable by a metal detector, can be easily modified to become undetectable, or is made by a 3D printer or CNC milling machine by a person who is not a federally licensed firearms manufacturer (FFL).
• Federal firearms licensee (FFL): a licensed firearm importer, manufacturer, or dealer under federal law.
• Unfinished frame or receiver: a forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that could be completed into a functional firearm.
• Unique serial number: the serial number and other identifying information required by federal law.
• 3D printing / computer numerical control (CNC) milling: technologies used to manufacture firearm parts outside of an FFL.

Main Provisions

• Prohibitions and penalties related to ghost guns

  • It is unlawful to possess, sell, transfer, or distribute ghost guns.
  • Penalties: up to 5 years in prison or a fine up to $10,000, or both.
  • Possession rules apply to anyone who owns or receives a ghost gun.
  • Special rules apply if a ghost gun is transferred, sold, or distributed.

• Compliance deadline for unserialized firearms

  • For anyone in possession of a firearm or unfinished frame/receiver without a serial number as of August 1, 2026:
  • They have 180 days to either: (a) have a FFL imprint a serial number, (b) permanently remove the item from the state, (c) render it permanently inoperable, or (d) surrender it to law enforcement for destruction.
  • Inheritance: recipients of an unfinished frame/receiver with no serial number must comply within 30 days of inheritance.
  • New residents: new arrivals with unserialized firearms must comply within 60 days of arriving (serializing, removing, rendering inoperable, or surrendering).

• Assembly and manufacturing limits (non-FFLs)

  • Non-FFLs are limited to assembling or manufacturing no more than three firearms per calendar year.
  • Before assembling a firearm lacking a serial number, a person must obtain a unique serial number from an FFL that complies with the serialization requirements.
  • Within 10 days of assembling, the serial number must be imprinted on the firearm by the FFL.
  • The bill makes clear that it does not authorize ghost gun assembly.

• Prohibition on manufacturing and design files

  • It is unlawful for non-FFLs to manufacture firearms using a CNC milling machine or a 3D printer.
  • It is unlawful to sell, transfer, or distribute digital design files (CAD files) or other electronic instructions that could be used to program a 3D printer to manufacture a ghost gun.
  • Violations carry penalties (up to 5 years in prison or fines up to $10,000).

• Serialization requirements (FFLs)

  • FFLs must assign and apply a unique serial number to firearms or unfinished frames/receivers owned by Minnesota residents.
  • Serial numbers must use the FFL prefix format and meet federal imprinting standards (size, depth, and durability).
  • FFLs must keep records of serial numbers and transactions and make records available to state/local law enforcement on request.
  • The serial number must be recorded at each transfer and in accordance with federal rules.
  • By August 1, 2026, the commissioner of public safety must issue a public notice educating the public about these serialization provisions (including website postings and other statewide communications to FFLs).

• Repeal of a prior statute

  • The bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.667 (firearms removal or alteration of a serial number), which previously criminalized removing or altering a firearm’s serial number and related offenses.

• Enforcement

  • Provisions are enforceable under Minnesota’s general enforcement authority (as referenced in the bill).

Section-by-Section Highlights (high-level)

• 624.7145: Defines ghost guns, outlines penalties for altering serial numbers, possession of ghost guns, and sale/transfer of ghost guns; sets compliance pathways for unserialized guns.
• 624.7146: Regulates assembling and manufacturing firearms by non-FFLs; limits on yearly production; serialization requirements before assembly; prohibits ghost-gun construction.
• 624.7147: Outlines serialization requirements for FFLs, including formatting, imprinting standards, recordkeeping, and a public notice deadline.
• Repealer: Repeals the prior statute on removal or alteration of serial numbers (609.667).
• Enforcement: Clarifies enforcement authority across sections.

Significance and Potential Impact

• Strengthens controls on ghost guns by tying possession, sale, and manufacture to serial numbers and FFL oversight.
• Expands the use of serialization to improve traceability and enforcement.
• Imposes penalties for creating, possessing, or distributing unserialized firearms and for distributing design files that enable ghost gun production.
• Introduces time-bound compliance for those who currently possess unserialized firearms and for new residents and inheritors.
• Requires public education about serialization and ghost-gun rules.

Relevant terms - ghost gun - serial number - unique serial number - unfinished frame or receiver - firearm - 3D printing - computer numerical control milling (CNC) - federal firearms licensee (FFL) - design files / CAD files / digital instructions - imprinted / imprinting - Minnesota Statutes 624.7145 / 624.7146 / 624.7147 - August 1, 2026 deadline - inheritance rules - new resident rules - penalties (imprisonment, fines) - enforcement - repeal of 609.667