1.2relating to public safety; firearms; authorizing federally licensed firearms
1.3importers, manufacturers, and dealers to possess and sell firearm silencers to
1.4authorized law enforcement and wildlife management agencies for certain
1.5authorized purposes;amending Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section
1.6609.66, subdivision 1h.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 609.66, subdivision 1h,
1.9is amended to read:
1.10    Subd. 1h. Silencers; authorized for law enforcement and wildlife control
1.11purposes. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), licensed peace
1.12officers may use devices designed to silence or muffle the discharge of a firearm for
1.13tactical emergency response operations. Tactical emergency response operations include
1.14execution of high risk search and arrest warrants, incidents of terrorism, hostage rescue,
1.15and any other tactical deployments involving high risk circumstances. The chief law
1.16enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency that has the need to use silencing devices
1.17must establish and enforce a written policy governing the use of the devices.
1.18(b) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), an enforcement
1.19officer, as defined in section 97A.015, subdivision 18, a wildlife area manager, an
1.20employee designated under section 84.0835, or a person acting under contract with the
1.21commissioner of natural resources, at specific times and locations that are authorized
1.22by the commissioner of natural resources may use devices designed to silence or
1.23muffle the discharge of a firearm for wildlife control operations that require stealth. If
1.24the 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 by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
2.5Firearms and Explosives, under United States Code, title 18, section 923, as a firearms
2.6importer, manufacturer, or dealer, may possess devices designed to silence or muffle the
2.7discharge of a firearm, for the purpose of selling or otherwise transferring the devices
2.8in any lawful manner to the chief executive officer of any state or local governmental
2.9unit, or to the officer's designee as stated in writing, for the purposes and uses expressly
2.10authorized under paragraphs (a) and (b).
2.11(d) Nothing in this section is intended to allow for the personal usage of devices
2.12designed to silence or muffle the discharge of a firearm by any person, except for the uses
2.13expressly authorized by law at any time.
2.14EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.