MINNESOTA SUPPRESSOR LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
Another grassroots success story in advancing good-sense on suppressor laws in Minnesota: We had been keeping this on the down-low for the last couple months, as this one was a bit sensitive, but it’s good to go as of today!
Chris Stafford, a longtime GEMTECH client that saw a problem that needed to be addressed, asked his representative to start a bill, and this is the result.
Historically, Minnesota has been one of the worst offenders in restricting the access to firearm-mounted hearing protection. There have even been roadblocks making it hard to obtain sound suppressors for even their own law enforcement departments, whose employees are exposed to firearms noise as a condition of their employment, not just by recreational choice. There have been positive changes to allow very narrow categories of suppressor ownership (some wildlife agencies, law enforcement, etc.), but not even dealers could possess them to demonstrate them *to* these agencies. GEMTECH couldn’t even “import” our own silencers into the state, so have subcontracted under manufacturing variance for companies like DPMS to get our product into Minnesota.
Today’s law change now advances Minnesota dealers to possess and sell to authorized clients. Baby steps for certain, and nowhere near the freedoms we’d like to see in the Gopher State, but we believe that the more commonplace suppressors are, the myths and misperceptions about them will start to erode, leading to increased freedoms to everyone. Minnesota’s got a long way to go towards a “greener” approach to abating firearm noise, but this is a step in the right direction.
Mike Benson is the Representative that got things moving there on the House side, and Senator Bill Englebritson on the Senate.
Federally licensed firearm importers, manufacturers and dealers firearm silencers possession and sale to authorized law enforcement agencies, military and other licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers authorization
Video of Chris’ testimony is here, about twenty minutes in:
Bill Status 2125 and companion April 16, HB 1816 passed, and companion SB2125 passed – both went off to the governor and were signed today!