Or...  Cross the state line to ND, and you can drive around with the gun next to you in the front seat...  Magazine loaded, inserted in rifle, just no round in the chamber...

I never knew this kind of freedom in MN!

 

 

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=624.7181

2013 Minnesota Statutes

624.7181 RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS IN PUBLIC PLACES.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them.

(a) "BB gun" means a device that fires or ejects a shot measuring .18 of an inch or less in diameter.

(b) "Carry" does not include:

(1) the carrying of a BB gun, rifle, or shotgun 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;

(2) the carrying by a person of a BB gun, rifle, or shotgun that is unloaded and in a gun case expressly made to contain a firearm, if the case fully encloses the firearm by being zipped, snapped, buckled, tied, or otherwise fastened, and no portion of the firearm is exposed;

(3) the carrying of a BB gun, rifle, or shotgun by a person who has a permit under section 624.714;

(4) the carrying of an antique firearm as a curiosity or for its historical significance or value; or

(5) the transporting of a BB gun, rifle, or shotgun in compliance with section 97B.045.

(c) "Public place" means property owned, leased, or controlled by a governmental unit and private property that is regularly and frequently open to or made available for use by the public in sufficient numbers to give clear notice of the property's current dedication to public use but does not include: a person's dwelling house or premises, the place of business owned or managed by the person, or land possessed by the person; a gun show, gun shop, or hunting or target shooting facility; or the woods, fields, or waters of this state where the person is present lawfully for the purpose of hunting or target shooting or other lawful activity involving firearms.


Subd. 2.Penalties.

Whoever carries a BB gun, rifle, or shotgun on or about the person in a public place is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. A person under the age of 21 who carries a semiautomatic military-style assault weapon, as defined in section 624.712, subdivision 7, on or about the person in a public place is guilty of a felony.


Subd. 3.Exceptions.

This section does not apply to officers, employees, or agents of law enforcement agencies or the armed forces of this state or the United States, or private detectives or protective agents, to the extent that these persons are authorized by law to carry firearms and are acting in the scope of their official duties.


History:  1993 c 326 art 1 s 34; 1994 c 576 s 58; 1994 c 636 art 3 s 42


If people have questions as to whether they can carry a rifle or shotgun in a public place, then I would suggest you contact your local prosecutors office and ask them.  If you do carry a rifle or shotgun in public, you will most likely be arrested and prosecuted.  I am aware of several incidents and individuals who have carried a rifle or shotgun in a public place, who had permits to carry, they were each arrested, booked into jail where they each spent several days behind bars before seeing a judge who set bail.  Once they made bail, they were prosecuted, convicted, had to pay fines in excess of $3k-4K, lost their firearms, and lost their permits to carry forever (yes forever, as this is a weapons violation and if convicted of such you could lose your firearms rights).

The statute is fairly simple to read and understand if you are used to reading and enforcing them.  If you are not used to working with them, it can be a little confusing.  It can also be confusing as there are other sections of statues and practices that come into play, and you have to be able to know where to look and how they all integrate together.        

Section 1 is definitions, these are used when interpreting the statute.  

Section 2 is the violation, which states that anyone who carries a rifle or shotgun in a public place is guilty of a crime.

Section 3 is the exceptions, these are the exceptions to the violation which tells you who can carry a rifle or shotgun in a public place.  The exception is that only Law Enforcement, Military, Private Detectives and Protective Agents (Security) can carry a rifle or shotgun in a public place, they must be in the official capacity of their duties at the time, and they must be permitted by the law to carry or possess a firearm.  Law Enforcement doesn't need to obtain a permit to carry a firearm, as they are authorized to do be able to possess and carry firearms under a different section of the MN Statutes.  The Military is authorized to carry firearms in their official capacity of their duties, and are not required to have a carry permit by the State of Minnesota when they are performing official Military duties in official Military capacity.  Private Detectives and Protective Agents are required to have a carry permit by the State of Minnesota if they are going to be carrying a firearm in their official capacity of their duties, which is why there is the reference under the definitions to 624.714.  Per MN Statute, Private Detectives and Protective Agents are also held to different standards by the State of Minnesota for training requirements, and while carrying in the official capacity of their duties.                              

CY6
Greg Sullivan "Sully"
SLR15 Rifles
TheDefensiveEdge.com
(763) 712-0123

If you know me or anything about me, then you know that I do not BS about the law, as I have been enforcing them for a very long time.  I will not give names of individuals, so you can do your own research if you want through the State of Minnesota as they have records.  I suggested in the previous post that anyone who wishes clarification on this law should contact their local prosecutor.  I can say that if you violated 624.7181 in my jurisdiction, then you would be arrested and prosecuted.  I am very aware of several people that have violated this law, were arrested, prosecuted, and convicted.  One that comes to mind is a individual who just obtained a Kifaru pack for an upcoming hunting trip.  He adjusted the pack and scabbard to what he thought was comfortable, but decided to go for a hike around a very populated lake area with bike trails in Mpls.  While hiking along, he was stopped and arrested, as he had forgot that the shotgun he was carrying in the scabbord had the butt stock showing.  He was arrested, kept in jail for several days, prosecuted and convicted.  Another one that comes to mind is a couple of security guards were working a jobsite in a not so nice neighborhood.  They heard what they thought were gunshots down the street, so they decided to retrieve rifles from their vehicles and go and investigate.  The local police observed them far from their job site carrying the rifles, they were charged as well.  They would have been fine with the rifles on the property that they were contracted to do security work at, but not off the property, and in their case they managed a plea bargain.

CY6
Greg Sullivan "Sully"
SLR15 Rifles
TheDefensiveEdge.com
(763) 712-0123