1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; firearms; authorizing federally licensed firearms 
1.3 	importers, manufacturers, and dealers to possess and sell firearm silencers to 
1.4 	authorized law enforcement and wildlife management agencies for certain 
1.5 	authorized purposes;amending Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 
1.6 	609.66, subdivision 1h.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 609.66, subdivision 1h, 
1.9 	is amended to read:
1.10 		Subd. 1h.Silencers; authorized for law enforcement and wildlife control 
1.11 	purposes. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), licensed peace 
1.12 	officers may use devices designed to silence or muffle the discharge of a firearm for 
1.13 	tactical emergency response operations. Tactical emergency response operations include 
1.14 	execution of high risk search and arrest warrants, incidents of terrorism, hostage rescue, 
1.15 	and any other tactical deployments involving high risk circumstances. The chief law 
1.16 	enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency that has the need to use silencing devices 
1.17 	must establish and enforce a written policy governing the use of the devices.
1.18 	(b) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), an enforcement 
1.19 	officer, as defined in section 97A.015, subdivision 18, a wildlife area manager, an 
1.20 	employee designated under section 84.0835, or a person acting under contract with the 
1.21 	commissioner of natural resources, at specific times and locations that are authorized 
1.22 	by the commissioner of natural resources may use devices designed to silence or 
1.23 	muffle the discharge of a firearm for wildlife control operations that require stealth. If 
1.24 	the commissioner determines that the use of silencing devices is necessary under this 
2.1 	paragraph, the commissioner must establish and enforce a written policy governing the 
2.2 	use, possession, and transportation of the devices.
2.3 	(c) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), a person who is 
2.4 	licensed by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
2.5 	Firearms and Explosives, under United States Code, title 18, section 923, as a firearms 
2.6 	importer, manufacturer, or dealer, may possess devices designed to silence or muffle the 
2.7 	discharge of a firearm, for the purpose of selling or otherwise transferring the devices 
2.8 	in any lawful manner to the chief executive officer of any state or local governmental 
2.9 	unit, or to the officer's designee as stated in writing, for the purposes and uses expressly 
2.10 	authorized under paragraphs (a) and (b).
2.11 	(d) Nothing in paragraph (c) is intended to allow for the personal usage of devices 
2.12 	designed to silence or muffle the discharge of a firearm by any person, except for the uses 
2.13 	expressly authorized by law at any time.

2.14 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.