as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/04/2013 02:59pm
A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing equal penalties for offenders who
unlawfully possess firearms on school property; amending Minnesota Statutes
2012, section 609.66, subdivision 1d.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 609.66, subdivision 1d, is amended to read:
(a) Except as provided under
paragraphs (d) and (f) paragraph (e), whoever possesses, stores, or keeps a dangerous
weapon while knowingly on school property is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced
to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than
$10,000, or both.
(b) Whoever uses or brandishes a replica firearm or a BB gun while knowingly on
school property is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(c) Whoever possesses, stores, or keeps a replica firearm or a BB gun while
knowingly on school property is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), (b), or (c), it is a misdemeanor for a person
authorized to carry a firearm under the provisions of a permit or otherwise to carry a
firearm on or about the person's clothes or person in a location the person knows is school
property. Notwithstanding section 609.531, a firearm carried in violation of this paragraph
is not subject to forfeiture.
(e) (d) As used in this subdivision:
(1) "BB gun" means a device that fires or ejects a shot measuring .18 of an inch
or less in diameter;
(2) "dangerous weapon" has the meaning given it in section 609.02, subdivision 6;
(3) "replica firearm" has the meaning given it in section 609.713; and
(4) "school property" means:
(i) a public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school building and its
improved grounds, whether leased or owned by the school;
(ii) a child care center licensed under chapter 245A during the period children are
present and participating in a child care program;
(iii) the area within a school bus when that bus is being used by a school to
transport one or more elementary, middle, or secondary school students to and from
school-related activities, including curricular, cocurricular, noncurricular, extracurricular,
and supplementary activities; and
(iv) that portion of a building or facility under the temporary, exclusive control
of a public or private school, a school district, or an association of such entities where
conspicuous signs are prominently posted at each entrance that give actual notice to
persons of the school-related use.
(f) (e) This subdivision does not apply to:
(1) active licensed peace officers;
(2) military personnel or students participating in military training, who are on-duty,
performing official duties;
(3) persons authorized to carry a pistol under section 624.714 while in a motor
vehicle or outside of a motor vehicle to directly place a firearm in, or retrieve it from, the
trunk or rear area of the vehicle;
(4) persons who keep or store in a motor vehicle pistols in accordance with section
624.714 or 624.715 or other firearms in accordance with section 97B.045;
(5) firearm safety or marksmanship courses or activities conducted on school
property;
(6) possession of dangerous weapons, BB guns, or replica firearms by a ceremonial
color guard;
(7) a gun or knife show held on school property;
(8) possession of dangerous weapons, BB guns, or replica firearms with written
permission of the principal or other person having general control and supervision of the
school or the director of a child care center; or
(9) persons who are on unimproved property owned or leased by a child care center,
school, or school district unless the person knows that a student is currently present on the
land for a school-related activity.
(g) (f) Notwithstanding section 471.634, a school district or other entity composed
exclusively of school districts may not regulate firearms, ammunition, or their respective
components, when possessed or carried by nonstudents or nonemployees, in a manner
that is inconsistent with this subdivision.