"Minnesota Citizens Personal Protection Act of 2001", recognizing the inherent right of law abiding citizens to self protection through the lawful use of self defense; authorizing and providing for the issuance of permits to carry pistols by county sheriffs, specifying eligibility, training, application and background investigation requirements, authorizing sheriff contracts with police chiefs for permit application processing purposes; providing for the granting or denial of permits, requiring notice of denial and reconsideration under certain conditions; specifying certain permit requirements and the validity period, providing for renewal and for replacement of lost or destroyed permits; requiring revocation for a disqualifying offense; authorizing and providing for the issuance of emergency permits under certain conditions; providing for hearings on denial or revocation and for denial or suspension by court order under certain conditions; restricting the records maintenance authority of sheriffs; authorizing the commissioner of public safety to contract for the implementation and maintenance of an automated database of persons authorized to carry pistols; providing for the recognition of permits from other states; exempting sheriffs and instructors from liability for damages resulting from acts with firearms committed by permit holders, exception; requiring annual statistical reports by the commissioner to the legislature, specifying certain report content requirements; exclusivity clause; appropriating money to the commissioner of public safety for implementation purposes; temporarily extending the sheriff permit issuance turnaround time pending receipt of background check responses from the commissioner; grandfathering in current permits to carry, permits to be valid until date of expiration; imposing penalties for certain violations including possession without a permit or under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance; extending the felony penalty for possession of certain dangerous weapons on school property to licensed child care centers, reducing the penalty for persons with a permit to carry possessing pistols on school or child care center property and providing certain exemptions from the penalty; repealing certain existing permit eligibility and penalty provisions (ra)