St. Paul, Minnesota — A recent change to Minnesota state law will have an affect on thousands of residents of other states, including Iowa. Effective August 1st, Minnesota no longer honors Concealed Weapons Permits issued by the states of Utah, Missouri, Texas, or Wyoming. Prior to August 1st, Minnesota had honored each of those states’ permits.
Minnesota has never honored Iowa Concealed Weapons Permits, and as a result many people who live in Iowa, but travel to Minnesota, obtained non-resident permits, mostly from the state of Utah, which allowed them to go armed when traveling in Minnesota. However, Utah permits will no longer be honored in Minnesota.
According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, since 2003 their agency has been required to publish a list of states which have handgun carry permit laws that are not “substantially similar” to Minnesota’s Permit To Carry Law. During the 2015 legislative session, a law was passed that changed the phrase “substantially similar” to simply “similar”. As a result of the law change, the Minnesota DPS says they conducted a thorough review of all 50 states’ permit to carry laws to determine which are “similar” to Minnesota’s.
The DPS says that Utah was removed from the approved list because Utah does not require permit holders to demonstrate shooting proficiency, while Minnesota law does require range qualification. The other three states, Missouri, Texas and Wyoming, were removed from the approved list due to laws in each state that allow some persons under the age of 21 to obtain a permit. Minnesota requires permit holders to be at least 21 years of age.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says they will continue to annually review state laws governing the issuance of permits to carry weapons, and will post an updated list on their website each year.
The good news for Iowans and residents of other states who find themselves no longer able to carry in Minnesota is this; while the state of Minnesota no longer honors your Utah Non-Resident Permit, Minnesota Non-Resident Permits are available.
