CHAPTER 520. INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS Minneapolis, Minnesota Code of Ordinances
520.160. Definitions.
Firearm. Any device, designed to be used as a weapon, which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other form of combustion, but excluding antique firearm, “BB” gun, scuba gun, stud or nail gun used in the construction industry, or pop gun or toy gun.
Chapter 2 GENERAL REGULATIONS GOVERNING CONDUCT Minneapolis, Minnesota Code of Ordinances
PB2-8. Molesting birds or wildlife.
No person shall rob, injure or destroy any bird’s nest within the limits of any park or parkway, nor air or discharge any air gun, sling-shot, or other weapon, or throw any stone or other missile at any bird or bird’s nest or wild creature within any park or parkway, nor in any manner capture or kill any bird or wild creature therein. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 1010.120)
In addition to city laws and regulations, residences of Minneapolis will also need to follow the state of Minnesota’s laws and regulations for airguns as outlined below:
Minnesota state law prohibits the carrying of an air gun in a public place.
Minnesota state law also prohibits the display, exhibition, brandishing or other use of a air gun in a threatening manner that induces terror in another person.
Outside of urban areas, Minnesota prohibits furnishing an air gun to a minor under the age of 14 without the consent of the child’s parent or guardian. The Minnestoa also prohibits any parent or guardian from permitting his or her child under age 14 to handle or use an air gun outside of the parent’s or guardian’s presence.
Within an urban area, Minnesota prohibits any person from furnishing a minor under the age of 18 with an air gun without the prior consent of the minor’s parent or guardian.
Minnesota also prohibits the possessing an air gun while knowingly on school property.
Minnesota does allow some exceptions to the above laws, including possession of air guns by a ceremonial color guard or with the written permission of the principal or other appropiate administrator.
This prohibition is subject to the following exceptions:
• The air gun is being carried to, from, or at a place where firearms are repaired, bought, sold, traded, or displayed, or where hunting, target shooting, or other lawful activity involving firearms occurs, or at funerals, parades, or other lawful ceremonies;
• The air gun is unloaded and in a gun case expressly made for a firearm and which fully encloses the firearm with no portion of the gun exposed;
• The person has a firearms permit;
• The air gun is an antique firearm that is being carried as a curiosity or for its historical significance or value; or
• The air gun is being transported unloaded and in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle.
DANGEROUS WEAPONS.
Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes.
(a) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a crime and may be sentenced as provided in paragraph (b):
Minnesota Firearms Laws
(Felony)
The following crimes are felonies, punishable by various maximum penalties, depending on the offense:
possessing, storing, or keeping a dangerous weapon, or using or brandishing a replica firearm or BB gun on elementary or secondary school property or in a school bus while it is transporting students (certain exceptions apply);
Terroristic Threats
(Gross Misdemeanor)
A person commits the crime of terroristic threats if the person displays, exhibits, brandishes, or otherwise employs a replica firearm or a BB gun in a threatening manner and causes or attempts to cause terror in another person or acts in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror.
Maximum penalty: one year imprisonment and/or $3,000
fine. Minn. Stat. § 609.713
Carrying a BB Gun, Rifle, or Shotgun in a Public Place
(Felony; Gross Misdemeanor)
A person who carries a BB gun, rifle, or shotgun in a public place is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, unless the act is included in one of several statutory exceptions. If the person is under the age of 21 and carries an semiautomatic military style assault weapon in a public place, the penalty becomes a felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment and/or
$10,000 fine. Minn. Stat. § 624.7181
(6) outside of a municipality and without the parent’s or guardian’s consent, furnishes a child under 14 years of age, or as a parent or guardian permits the child to handle or use, outside of the parent’s or guardian’s presence, a firearm or air-gun of any kind, or any ammunition or explosive.
Possession of written evidence of prior consent signed by the minor’s parent or guardian is a complete defense to a charge under clause (6).
(b) A person convicted under paragraph (a) may be sentenced as follows:
(1) if the act was committed in a public housing zone, as defined in section 152.01, subdivision 19, a school zone, as defined in section 152.01, subdivision 14a, or a park zone, as defined in section 152.01, subdivision 12a, to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both; or otherwise, including where the act was committed on residential premises within a zone described in clause (1) if the offender was at the time an owner, tenant, or invitee for a lawful purpose with respect to those residential premises, to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.
Felony; furnishing to minors.
Whoever, in any municipality of this state, furnishes a minor under 18 years of age with a firearm, air gun, ammunition, or explosive without the prior consent of the minor’s parent or guardian or of the police department of the municipality is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000, or both. Possession of written evidence of prior consent signed by the minor’s parent or guardian is a complete defense to a charge under this subdivision.
Felony; furnishing dangerous weapon.
Whoever recklessly furnishes a person with a dangerous weapon in conscious disregard of a known substantial risk that the object will be possessed or used in furtherance of a felony crime of violence is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000, or both.
Possession on school property; penalty.
(a) Except as provided under paragraphs (d) and (f), whoever possesses, stores, or keeps a dangerous weapon while knowingly on school property is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
(b) Whoever uses or brandishes a replica firearm or a BB gun while knowingly on school property is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(c) Whoever possesses, stores, or keeps a replica firearm or a BB gun while knowingly on school property is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), (b), or (c), it is a misdemeanor for a person authorized to carry a firearm under the provisions of a permit or otherwise to carry a firearm on or about the person’s clothes or person in a location the person knows is school property. Notwithstanding section 609.531, a firearm carried in violation of this paragraph is not subject to forfeiture.
As used in this subdivision:
(1) “BB gun” means a device that fires or ejects a shot measuring .18 of an inch or less in diameter;
(2) “dangerous weapon” has the meaning given it in section 609.02, subdivision 6;
(3) “replica firearm” has the meaning given it in section 609.713; and
(4) “school property” means:
(i) a public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school building and its improved grounds, whether leased or owned by the school;
(ii) a child care center licensed under chapter 245A during the period children are present and participating in a child care program;
(iii) the area within a school bus when that bus is being used by a school to transport one or more elementary, middle, or secondary school students to and from school-related activities, including curricular, co-curricular, non-curricular, extracurricular, and supplementary activities; and
(iv) that portion of a building or facility under the temporary, exclusive control of a public or private school, a school district, or an association of such entities where conspicuous signs are prominently posted at each entrance that give actual notice to persons of the school-related use.
This subdivision does not apply to:
(1) active licensed peace officers;
(2) military personnel or students participating in military training, who are on-duty, performing official duties;
(3) persons authorized to carry a pistol under section 624.714 while in a motor vehicle or outside of a motor vehicle to directly place a firearm in, or retrieve it from, the trunk or rear area of the vehicle;
(4) persons who keep or store in a motor vehicle pistols in accordance with section 624.714 or 624.715 or other firearms in accordance with section 97B.045;
(5) firearm safety or marksmanship courses or activities conducted on school property;
(6) possession of dangerous weapons, BB guns, or replica firearms by a ceremonial color guard;
(7) a gun or knife show held on school property;
(8) possession of dangerous weapons, BB guns, or replica firearms with written permission of the principal or other person having general control and supervision of the school or the director of a child care center; or
(9) persons who are on unimproved property owned or leased by a child care center, school, or school district unless the person knows that a student is currently present on the land for a school-related activity.
(g) Notwithstanding section 471.634, a school district or other entity composed exclusively of school districts may not regulate firearms, ammunition, or their respective components, when possessed or carried by nonstudents or nonemployees, in a manner that is inconsistent with this subdivision.
Felony; drive-by shooting.
(a) Whoever, while in or having just exited from a motor vehicle, recklessly discharges a firearm at or toward another motor vehicle or a building is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than three years or to payment of a fine of not more than $6,000, or both.
(b) Any person who violates this subdivision by firing at or toward a person, or an occupied building or motor vehicle, may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000, or both.
(c) For purposes of this subdivision, “motor vehicle” has the meaning given in section 609.52, subdivision 1, and “building” has the meaning given in section 609.581, subdivision 2.