Is it illegal to have a concealed handgun in Minnesota?
Executive summary
Carrying a concealed handgun in Minnesota is not categorically illegal: Minnesota requires a permit to carry a pistol for public possession or control of a concealable firearm, and holders who meet statutory qualifications may lawfully carry a concealed handgun (or openly) with that permit [1] [2]. The state is generally "shall-issue," meaning sheriffs must issue permits when applicants meet objective criteria, though location and person-based restrictions apply [1] [2].
1. What the law actually requires: a permit-to-carry, not a ban on concealment
Minnesota’s framework is a permit-to-carry system under the Minnesota Citizens’ Personal Protection Act: a person must hold a valid permit to possess or control a concealable firearm in public, and that permit allows carrying either concealed or openly because the statute does not condition the permit on concealment [1] [3] [4]. The county sheriff must issue a permit if the applicant meets statutory qualifications — for example, not being prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law, not being listed in the criminal gang investigative data system, and completing approved training — which reflects the state’s "shall-issue" posture [1] [2].
2. Practical obligations for permit holders: ID, display on demand, and expiration
A permit holder must carry the permit card and government photo identification while carrying a pistol and must display them upon lawful demand by a peace officer, and the permit itself is subject to expiration and potential revocation under statute [5] [6]. Reporting and recordkeeping rules also govern permits — data are generally private, permits expire after five years, and sheriffs forward permit actions to state systems — underscoring that legal carrying in Minnesota is contingent on compliance with administrative rules [6] [2].
3. Who cannot carry concealed: statutory prohibitions and recent clarifications
State law excludes persons prohibited under federal or Minnesota statute from receiving permits (for example, certain felons, those under court orders, and others listed in §624.713), and Minnesota law has been updated in case law and statute around age and other eligibility issues — protections and exclusions that matter more than whether a gun is concealed [2] [6]. Policy groups and advocates note additional statutory restrictions — for example, barring concealed carry for people with particular violent misdemeanor convictions — illustrating that the law targets the person’s status as much as the act of concealment [7].
4. Location limits, private property, and federal restrictions
Even with a valid permit, carrying is subject to location-based limits: federal restrictions (airports, federal property) still apply, and private property owners and some institutions can impose their own prohibitions under specified authorities; signs alone don’t always create criminal liability unless the law specifically lists the location as off-limits to permit holders [8] [9]. Public colleges, certain child-care or school properties, and specific venues may have rules or administrative policies that limit carrying, and state statute and case law shape how posted prohibitions interact with permit rights [10] [8].
5. Bottom line and reporting limits
The bottom-line legal answer: it is not illegal per se to carry a concealed handgun in Minnesota if the person holds a valid permit and complies with statutory qualifications, ID/display requirements, location restrictions, and other regulatory obligations — Minnesota’s law is a permit-to-carry, shall-issue system rather than a blanket prohibition on concealed carry [1] [2] [4]. Reporting here is limited to the sources provided and does not attempt to resolve finer-grained disputes about enforcement practice, local sheriff discretion, or recent court decisions beyond the citations above; readers should consult the actual statute (Minn. Stat. §624.714) or local sheriff’s office for precise administrative guidance [6].