Available 24/7/365 Ashburn

Practiced Firearm Lawyers in Minneapolis, Minnesota

50+

Years Of Collective Experience

10,000

Cases Successfully Resolved

100%

Criminal & DWI Defense

175+

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Four Minneapolis Firearms Attorneys, One Powerful Law Firm

Attorney Kyle Dreger

Kyle Dreger

Attorney Gerald Miller

Gerald Miller

How Can Our Firearms Attorneys in Minneapolis Can Help You?

Owning a Firearm

Permit to Carry a Weapon

Permitless Weapon Possession

Gun Trusts

The Constitution gives people the right to keep and bear arms. However, governments, including the state of Minnesota, have substantial leeway when it comes to gun ownership and carrying restrictions. Some of these restrictions are generally accepted and others are hotly contested.

Over the years, a complex web of laws has evolved to regulate gun ownership and carrying. At Gerald Miller P.A., we sort through this confusion, so we can give you accurate legal advice. We do more than advise clients. We also assertively represent them in court when their liberties are threatened.

Owning a Firearm

Most people can own handguns, long guns, like rifles and shotguns, and assault-style weapons. State law imposes no ownership permit requirement, registration requirement, or ammunition purchase limit. Additionally, sales among private parties are not subject to background checks. That usually includes gun show purchases.

A few words about firearms and Minnesota’s self-defense law from our Minneapolis Firearms Weapons Defense Lawyer. Unlike some other jurisdictions, Minnesota is not a stand-your-ground state. Defendants have a duty to retreat before using deadly force, even if that use of force is justified. Additionally, defendants must reasonably believe that deadly force is reasonably necessary to defend themselves, third person, or their property.

Permit to Carry a Weapon

Minnesota is a shall-issue state. If an applicant meets the minimum qualifications, authorities must issue a permit to carry a weapon. Officials cannot subjectively deny permits. However, Minnesota does have a red flag law. Officials can confiscate a person’s firearms if there is evidence that the person is a danger to society.

In most states, owners must tell officers they are carrying a concealed weapon and they cannot carry concealed weapons in certain areas. But Minnesota has no officer notification requirement and, for the most part, private landowners cannot bar gun carriers. Certain state-owned facilities may be off-limits.

On a related note, permit holders can carry guns in most state parks and most restaurants, provided they are not under the influence of alcohol (BAC above .04).

Permitless Weapon Possession

It is illegal to carry a pistol without a permit. “Carrying” usually means taking the pistol off personal property. A first offense is a misdemeanor and a subsequent offense is a felony. It is also semi-illegal to carry a weapon in a vehicle without a permit. Such behavior is only legal if the gun and ammunition are in separate, securely closed containers. Once again, a first offense is a misdemeanor and a subsequent offense is a felony.

Related offenses include making a false statement on a permit application, illegally discharging a firearm, negligent storage, and illegal sales. Just as you would work with Drug Crime Lawyers In Minneapolis to clear charges of drug possession, you should hire a Minneapolis Firearms Weapons Defense Lawyer to deal with charges of permitless weapon possession.

Gun Trusts

National Firearms Act gun trusts enable people to bypass certain ownership restrictions. NFA gun trusts allow people to buy machine guns or other such collectible firearms, silencers and other attachments, and so-called “weapons of mass destruction,” like a small bomb.

As experienced Minneapolis Firearms Weapons Defense Lawyers, we realize that Gun trusts can have more than one member. If Jose accidentally leaves his gun in his car and police officers stop his wife while she’s driving, she’s guilty of illegal gun possession. If she is a co-trustee, her unintentional possession is legal.

Gun trusts are also private. Technically, the trust, and not the person, legally owns the firearms in the trust. Furthermore, when the settlor (person who made the trust), dies, the contents pass seamlessly and privately to the beneficiary.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Illegally possessing a firearm is like illegally possessing prescription drugs, child pornography, stolen property, or any other contraband. Illegally using a firearm, even in a situation like illegally discharging a firearm at a party, is usually a violent offense.

All states now have concealed carry laws. Nearby Illinois was the last jurisdiction to pass a CCW law. These permit holders are immune from most gun possession prosecutions. And, prosecutors usually take mitigating circumstances into account. However, Minnesota’s CCW law does not guarantee lenient treatment.

Overall, about a fifth of prison inmates say they had a gun when they committed their crimes. About a quarter of criminal sexual assaults, aggravated assaults, and robberies involve a firearm. Roughly two-thirds of murders involve a firearm, which is almost always a handgun.

Most domestic assault convictions automatically bar people from owning guns. Additionally, under Minnesota’s red flag law, a misdemeanor assault or other violent misdemeanor conviction could result in the loss of gun ownership privileges.

Admittedly, our team does not defend very many war criminals, so our expertise in this area is limited. But yes, according to our understanding, using chemical weapons is a war crime. It is also against international law to manufacture or stockpile chemical weapons.

How We Make A Difference For You

See What Our Clients Say

abdiqani jamal
abdiqani jamal
05:28 04 Mar 23
For 2 years of my life I lived in fear and anxiety of prison and having my record ruined for the rest of my life at such a young age over a crime I never committed. For that time I worked with this law firm on this case and the professionalism and care I received was one I have never seen before in my life. We ended up taking the case to trial and quite honesty what I saw was unbelievable, Brody was one of the greatest lawyers I have ever come across in my life, the attention to detail, the hard work, and intelligence was out of this world we won a unanimous decision of not guilty and to say that I have been satisfied with choosing this law firm is a complete understatement. I truly believe that if I had not been working with this firm and my lawyer was not Brody Hacken I would not have received this victory and I would be sitting in a prison with my entire life ruined today. I mean this with all sincerity thank you so much for saving my life.
Doug Fanning
Doug Fanning
12:55 02 Mar 23
Gerald Miller helped me with a bizarre situation. Something was illegal that most of us would not think it was. Gerry was able to use his years of experience and long time relationships to get the charge adjudicated. This saved my job and I am ever grateful to Gerry. Great law firm with established roots in the community.
Richard Huntley
Richard Huntley
21:42 16 Feb 23
Reached out to Kyle for some clarification and guidance in my situation and he was very helpful and took the time to ensure he understood the situation before answering my questions. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Jaime Miller
Jaime Miller
15:32 18 Jan 23
Sumanth Prakash
Sumanth Prakash
18:28 05 Jan 23
Very comforting and helpful !! I really looked up to them and very responsive at any time
Austin Thompson
Austin Thompson
16:08 27 Dec 22
In my own experience with Mr. Kyle dreger, he was incredibly professional and down to earth while simultaneously being comforting and light hearted to work with on my case. He managed to lower a possible several year prison sentence down to a year of house arrest with probation time. I would recommend Mr. Dreger to anyone in need of legal assistance. Mr. Dreger fought for me to ensure I got the best possible outcome from my case

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