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The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) today released the 2023 Permit to Carry Report, which contains data submitted by Minnesota law enforcement agencies regarding applications made for handgun carry permits as well as data about permit holders. The annual report is required by Minnesota law.

Minnesota saw approximately the same number of firearms permits issued in 2023 as in 2022. Minnesota sheriffs reported to the BCA that 77,952 permits were applied for and that they issued 65,215 permits in 2023.

Sheriffs reported there were 222 permits suspended, 51 revoked, 1,307 voided and 789 denied in 2023.

Crimes committed by permit holders

Minnesota sheriffs reported that individuals with permits committed 4,701 crimes in 2023. This is the highest number since the state’s Personal Protection Act was enacted, but the percent of permit holders who committed a crime (1%) was consistent with recent prior years.

• Just over 3% were crimes where firearms were used in furtherance of a crime.
• Just under 60% were DWIs or other traffic offenses.
• 15% were from the “Other” category, which includes both less serious offenses such as city ordinance violations and DNR hunting and fishing violations and less common but more serious offenses. such as stalking and riot.

As of today, the total number of valid permits in Minnesota is 402,520.

The Permit to Carry Report contains data on permits to carry a firearm. Minnesota does not track permits to purchase firearms.