MN Firearm Transport Laws

[Trigger50]

Curious if this has happened to any of my fellow MN hunt talkers ??? 2 times in the last 2 yrs, I have been lectured by law enforcement @ transporting an UNLOADED, CASED firearm in my vehicle. The state trooper & local officer both aggressively lectured me that the firearm has to be in the trunk of the vehicle at all times. The 1st time I stated that this wouldn't be a safe thing to do in my pickup. He didn't issue any written warning or violation. The 2nd time happened last week. I told the officer that I have taken advanced firearm training from the state of MN & they didn't teach that the firearm has to be in the trunk at all times. Then I stated that MN laws allows for a firearm to be uncased in the vehicle if in the act of hunting or driving between hunting locations, which I was doing. The officer angrily stated that's "its just common sense to have it in the trunk at all times." Again the officer didn't issue any written warning or violation. I read up on MN law after this last incident and if I understand the laws correctly I can have a unloaded, cased firearm in the vehicle w me. Could someone help me w this ??? I understand the heightened sense of anxiety by our law-enforcement personnel & I respect their authority & always comply w their orders but I feel that they were just trying to force me into transporting the firearm in the trunk. The 1st traffic stop was for not making a complete stop & the 2nd was for a tail light out.

 

[Outdoor Junkie]

Hey Tim,

I've never heard of this before. It's actually one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. How is it safe and legal to have a loaded pistol on your hip or under your seat ( legal with conceal and carry permit), but unsafe to have an unloaded firearm in a case. Sounds like someone on a power trip to me.

You should have asked him how it was safer for him to have a loaded weapon on his hip than it was for you to have an unloaded weapon in your back seat... I appreciate the job that law enforcement does, but some of these guys think they can make the rules up as they go.

Curious if this has happened to any of my fellow MN hunt talkers ??? 2 times in the last 2 yrs, I have been lectured by law enforcement @ transporting an UNLOADED, CASED firearm in my vehicle. The state trooper & local officer both aggressively lectured me that the firearm has to be in the trunk of the vehicle at all times. The 1st time I stated that this wouldn't be a safe thing to do in my pickup. He didn't issue any written warning or violation. The 2nd time happened last week. I told the officer that I have taken advanced firearm training from the state of MN & they didn't teach that the firearm has to be in the trunk at all times. Then I stated that MN laws allows for a firearm to be uncased in the vehicle if in the act of hunting or driving between hunting locations, which I was doing. The officer angrily stated that's "its just common sense to have it in the trunk at all times." Again the officer didn't issue any written warning or violation. I read up on MN law after this last incident and if I understand the laws correctly I can have a unloaded, cased firearm in the vehicle w me. Could someone help me w this ??? I understand the heightened sense of anxiety by our law-enforcement personnel & I respect their authority & always comply w their orders but I feel that they were just trying to force me into transporting the firearm in the trunk. The 1st traffic stop was for not making a complete stop & the 2nd was for a tail light out.

 

[5Speedjim]

I just put mine in a case behind the seat of my truck. Even in "The People's Republic Of NJ" I haven't had that kind of headache. Out of sight, out of mind

 

[Big Sky Dreamin]

You are correct. As was pointed out to me by a county sherif a few years ago that the law had changed to allow the transport of an unloaded and uncased firearm in the vehicle while going to or from town or between hunting locations while hunting.

Sounds like the trooper needs a little recurrent training on the laws that have changed the last few years.

 

[TheShootist.41]

Trigger,
I agree with your interpretation of the Mn transport laws. If you want to get a confirmation the best bet, IMO, is to call the DNR and ask them.
This is from the 2014 hunting regs handbook: "a person may transport unloaded, uncased firearms,(excluding pistols) in or on a motor vehicle, including ATV's,
while at a shooting range with permission,
while lawfully hunting on private or public land, or while traveling to or from a site the person intends to hunt or trap or has lawfully hunted that day.
It goes on to list certain cities, school grounds, and other places that these rules don't apply.
Same rules apply to bows and crossbows.
Hope this helps. I always carry a copy of the current years handbook in my car just in case something like this happens.

 

[Gunner46]

Get a state issued copy of the law and keep it with you when traveling. When Mr. Power Trip starts his diatribe, just show it to him and say nothing else. If he goes on, take his badge number and officially report him to a much, Much higher authority.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

I always carry a copy of the current years handbook in my car just in case something like this happens.

This is a really good idea. My experience has been that while the DNR understands this in MN, there is not unifrom understanding in the law enforcement community (especially around the Twin Cities).

 

[Z Barebow]

This is a really good idea. My experience has been that while the DNR understands this in MN, there is not unifrom understanding in the law enforcement community (especially around the Twin Cities).

You are spot on. I think what you are seeing is the difference between urban and rural. For rural folks, guns are a tool for our hobby. In an urban environment, a gun is often stereotyped and associated with violence and something to not even be owned, much less seen. It is possible for a gun to be seen within the 494/694 beltway and not automatically shoot someone! LOL!

If I were in your shoes, I would have a copy of regs. as noted above. If confronted by LE, be upfront with them ASAP that you have a firearm (Even if it is seems obvious). You know you are not a threat, but they do not know.

I often keep my bill fold in console. I know if I am ever stopped, I will be disclosing that my wallet is in the console and I need to retrieve it to produce ID. (Not just grab for it!)

I have worked around LE for over 30 years. Think about it. How many of us have jobs where there is a chance of us not coming home after 5 PM? 99.9% of their interactions are "routine". But if they treat 100% of their public contact as "routine", that .1% could get them killed.

I am not taking LE's side in your instances, but I understand the paranoia. No one wants to kill me on my job because of what I wear or who I represent.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

When I worked in N. Minneapolis, I carried every day/night, and if I was stopped I always handed the officer my CC permit with my DL. I think they appreciated it. They would ask where it was, and that I leave it there, but never any issues. I rarely carry now, so It isn't really an issue anymore.

 

[Trigger50]

Thank guys. I haven't gotten real firm about it mainly because I don't want a ticket for the traffic violation.I don't want to get stuck with any violation that they can come up w, because I disagreed w them.