as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
A bill for an act
relating to game and fish; permitting the use of a
firearm silencer for deer management; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 97B.031, subdivision
4; 609.66, subdivision 1a.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97B.031,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
new text begin (a) Except as provided in
paragraph (b),new text end a person may not own or possess a silencer for a
firearm or a firearm equipped to have a silencer attached.
new text begin
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to the ownership and
possession of a silencer by a person who:
new text end
new text begin
(1) is hired by a local government solely to shoot deer
according to a deer management control plan approved by the
local government and the commissioner of natural resources; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) has a valid federal permit to possess and use a
silencer.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.66,
subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 1h,
whoever does any of the following is guilty of a felony and may
be sentenced as provided in paragraph (b):
(1) sells or has in possession any device designed to
silence or muffle the discharge of a firearmnew text begin , except when the
device is possessed by a person authorized under section
97B.031, subdivision 4, paragraph (b)new text end ;
(2) intentionally discharges a firearm under circumstances
that endanger the safety of another; or
(3) recklessly discharges a firearm within a municipality.
(b) A person convicted under paragraph (a) may be sentenced
as follows:
(1) if the act was a violation of paragraph (a), clause
(2), or if the act was a violation of paragraph (a), clause (1)
or (3), and was committed in a public housing zone, as defined
in section 152.01, subdivision 19, a school zone, as defined in
section 152.01, subdivision 14a, or a park zone, as defined in
section 152.01, subdivision 12a, to imprisonment for not more
than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than
$10,000, or both; or
(2) otherwise, to imprisonment for not more than two years
or to payment of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.