HF3433

Purpose

• Establish a prohibition on possession of semiautomatic militarystyle assault weapons in Minnesota.
• Create criminal penalties for possessing or transferring these weapons.
• Require a certification process for people who legally owned such weapons before a specified date and provide rules for storage, inspection, and eventual surrender or destruction.
• Align changes with updates to Minnesota statutes and provide enforcement mechanisms through law enforcement agencies.

What is considered a semiautomatic militarystyle assault weapon (definitions)

• The bill defines a semiautomatic militarystyle assault weapon as any firearm that matches or is substantially like listed designs (e.g., AK-47 style, AR-15 style, Uzi, TEC9, SIG 550/551, SKS with detachable magazine, Steyr AUG, and several other named models) or a firearm with one or more listed features.
• Features that trigger the designation include detachable magazines, pistol grips or thumbhole stocks, folding/ telescoping stocks, shrouds around the barrel, flash suppressors, and certain combinations of features that allow easier handling or higher capacity.
• It also covers firearms that are modified, renamed, or redesigned versions of the listed weapons, or that can be assembled from parts (e.g., conversion kits) to become semiautomatic militarystyle assault weapons.
• Some weapons are excluded if permanently inoperable.

Prohibited actions (Main provisions)

• It is unlawful to transfer, own, or possess semiautomatic militarystyle assault weapons in Minnesota.
• Transfers include sales, gifts, loans, or other forms of delivery to another person.
• The prohibition includes weapons that were previously regulated or imported under federal rules, as well as those matching the listed models or their functional equivalents through modifications.

Exceptions

• Government officers, agents, or employees and members of the United States armed forces, or peace officers acting within their duties, may possess or acquire such weapons only if authorized.
• The manufacture of these weapons by a licensed manufacturer for sale to U.S. armed forces or Minnesota law enforcement (or their employees) is allowed, provided the manufacturer is properly licensed and the weapons are intended for those agencies.
• A licensed dealer may transfer a weapon to a U.S. armed forces branch or a Minnesota law enforcement agency, for use by that agency or its employees, but the dealer must not hold the weapon for more than 120 days from acquisition to delivery.

Certification of ownership for preexisting owners

• People who legally owned or possessed a semiautomatic militarystyle assault weapon before January 1, 2027 must request a certification of ownership by May 1, 2027.
• The certification process is administered by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the appropriate local law enforcement agency, which must provide a duplicate copy of the certification request.
• Certified owners must:
  • Store the weapon safely and securely according to regulations.
  • Allow storage inspections by the appropriate law enforcement agency to verify compliance.
  • Renew the certification every three years.
  • Possess the weapon only on property they own or control, at a duly licensed firing range, or while transporting in compliance with law.
  • Report any loss or theft to the law enforcement agency within 48 hours of discovery.
• Certification is required for ongoing possession; otherwise, the weapon must be surrendered for destruction or removed from the state, especially for those who acquire by inheritance or succession.

Storage, inspections, and regulations

• The superintendent of the BCA must adopt regulations detailing safe storage for lawful ownership and implement the certification system.

Inheritance, transfer, and destruction

• If someone inherits a semiautomatic militarystyle assault weapon, they must within 120 days choose to:
  • surrender it to law enforcement for destruction,
  • modify it to make it permanently inoperable, or
  • remove it from the state.
• If a certified owner dies or certain transfers occur, the weapon must follow the same surrender/destruction/removal requirements.
• The appropriate law enforcement agency may require surrender for destruction or inspection purposes during the certification process.

Penalties

• Violating the prohibition on transfer, ownership, or possession (the core prohibition) is a felony, with penalties including up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $25,000, or both.
• Violations related to storage, inspection, or other specified requirements (e.g., failure to comply with storage provisions or the certification process) can be treated as a gross misdemeanor.
• A second or subsequent violation of the prohibition or related provisions is a felony.
• The prosecution or conviction under this section does not bar charges or punishment for other crimes.

Relationship to existing law

• The bill amends current Minnesota statutes to add a comprehensive framework for defining, prohibiting, and enforcing the possession or transfer of semiautomatic militarystyle assault weapons.
• It introduces a new certification scheme and storage/inspections regime, along with clear exceptions for law enforcement and military use.

Practical implications for Minnesota residents

• People who do not fall into the exemptions and who currently own such weapons will face new obligations: certify ownership by a deadline, implement secure storage, allow inspections, and comply with periodic renewals or surrender the weapon.
• Those who inherit such weapons or buy them after the effective date will face strict rules, including potential removal from the state or destruction.
• Law enforcement and firearm manufacturers are positioned to play central roles in enforcement, certification, and transfers to agencies.

Relevant Terms - semiautomatic militarystyle assault weapon - possession prohibition - transfer (sale, gift, loan, assignment, etc.) - certification of ownership - Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) - appropriate law enforcement agency - secure storage / storage regulations - inspection - renewal every three years - destruction - surrender to law enforcement - permanent inoperability - inheritance / succession - license / licensed manufacturer - law enforcement exemption - felony - gross misdemeanor - detachable magazine - pistol grip - folding/ telescoping stock - shroud - flash suppressor - conversion kit - identified firearm models (AK-47, AR-15, Uzi, TEC9, Steyr AUG, etc.) and their variants - importation prohibition (federal context referenced)