1.2relating to public safety; firearms silencers; authorizing federally licensed
1.3firearms and ammunition manufacturers to possess firearms silencers for the
1.4purpose of testing or selling the silencers or the firearms and ammunition tested
1.5with them to government agencies, military, and other federally licensed firearms
1.6and ammunition manufacturers;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section
1.7609.66, subdivision 1h.
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 609.66, subdivision 1h, is amended to read:
1.10    Subd. 1h. Silencers; authorized for law enforcement and; wildlife control;
1.11and firearms and ammunition testing purposes. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a,
1.12paragraph (a), clause (1), licensed peace officers may use devices designed to silence or
1.13muffle the discharge of a firearm for tactical emergency response operations. Tactical
1.14emergency response operations include execution of high risk search and arrest warrants,
1.15incidents of terrorism, hostage rescue, and any other tactical deployments involving high
1.16risk circumstances. The chief law enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency
1.17that has the need to use silencing devices must establish and enforce a written policy
1.18governing the use of the devices.
1.19(b) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), an enforcement
1.20officer, as defined in section 97A.015, subdivision 18, a wildlife area manager, an
1.21employee designated under section 84.0835, or a person acting under contract with the
1.22commissioner of natural resources, at specific times and locations that are authorized
1.23by the commissioner of natural resources may use devices designed to silence or
1.24muffle the discharge of a firearm for wildlife control operations that require stealth. If
1.25the commissioner determines that the use of silencing devices is necessary under this
2.1paragraph, the commissioner must establish and enforce a written policy governing the
2.2use, possession, and transportation of the devices.
2.3(c) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), a person who is
2.4licensed, as required, by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol,
2.5Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under United States Code, title 18, section 923, as a
2.6firearms or ammunition importer, manufacturer, or dealer, who is acting in full compliance
2.7with all federal requirements under that license, may possess devices designed to silence or
2.8muffle the discharge of a firearm for the purpose of testing, selling, or otherwise transferring
2.9in any lawful manner the devices or, firearms , or ammunition tested with the devices, to:
2.10(1) the chief administrator of any federal, state, or local governmental agency;
2.11(2) the commander or commander's designee of any unit of the United States Armed
2.12Forces; or
2.13(3) a person who is licensed, as required, by the United States Department of Justice,
2.14Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under United States Code, title 18,
2.15section 923, as a firearms or ammunition importer, manufacturer, or dealer, who is acting
2.16in full compliance with all federal requirements under that license.
2.17EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2013.