The Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) released the 2018 Permit to Carry Report Friday, an annual report summarizing data submitted by Minnesota law enforcement agencies regarding applications made for handgun carry permits as well as data about permit holders.

Minnesota sheriffs reported to the BCA that 69,169 permits were applied for and that they issued 66,053 permits in 2018.

Sheriffs reported there were 142 permits suspended, 32 revoked and 617 denied in 2018.

In Mower County, according to the report, there were 543 applications submitted with one denied, one suspended and one permit revoked.

Steele County reported 467 permit applications and Dodge County reported 367.

In the report Minnesota sheriffs reported that individuals with permits committed 1,828 crimes in 2018. Nearly 60 percent were DWIs or other traffic offenses.

As of today, the total number of valid permits in Minnesota is 290,546.

Minnesota’s Personal Protection Act was first enacted in 2003. Permits were first eligible for renewal in 2008. Individuals wishing to obtain a Minnesota Permit to Carry must apply for the permit at their local sheriff’s office and provide proof of approved firearms training. Sheriffs then must follow a statutorily-defined process, checking FBI, BCA and DHS records as well as their own data for any disqualifying information. Individuals denied a permit have the right to appeal the denial.

Minnesota sheriffs are then required under Minnesota law to report their data on gun permit applications, issuances and denials to the BCA. The BCA compiles the public information provided by Minnesota sheriffs into its annual report.

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Minnesota Gun carry Permits

Year – Permits Issued

• 2018 – 66,053
• 2017 – 55,069
• 2016 – 71,156
• 2015 – 44,696
• 2014 – 41,493

The top five counties for five-year permits issued by sheriffs in 2018 are:

County – Permits Issued

• Hennepin – 7,804
• Anoka – 4,895
• Dakota – 4,125
• Ramsey – 3,708
• Washington – 3,466