This bill aims to enhance public safety by prohibiting the sale and possession of ghost guns, which are firearms that lack a unique serial number or are manufactured using three-dimensional printers by individuals who are not federally licensed firearms manufacturers. It establishes strict regulations on the assembly and manufacturing of firearms, limiting non-licensed individuals to assembling no more than three firearms per year and requiring them to obtain a unique serial number from a federal firearms licensee before assembly. Additionally, the bill prohibits the distribution of digital firearm design files that could be used to create ghost guns and mandates that all firearms must have serial numbers imprinted in compliance with federal law.

The legislation also includes provisions for enforcement, with penalties of up to five years of imprisonment or fines of up to $10,000 for violations related to ghost guns, including possession, sale, and alteration of serial numbers. Furthermore, it requires the Commissioner of Public Safety to issue a public notice by August 1, 2026, to educate the public about these new regulations. The bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.667, which previously addressed the removal or alteration of serial numbers on firearms, thereby consolidating and updating the legal framework surrounding firearm serialization and ghost gun regulations.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 609.667