NRA GUN SAFETY RULES:

1. ALWAYS_ keep the gun pointed in a safe direction

2. ALWAYS_ keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

3. ALWAYS_ keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

4. Know your target and what is beyond.

Col Jeff CoopEr's four rules OF GUN SAFETY:

1) - All guns are always loaded, and should be treated as such

2)  - Never point a gun at anything you do not wish to destroy

3)  - Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

4)  - Know your target and what is beyond."

National Shooting Sports Foundation:

GENERAL FIREARM HANDLING

Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.• 

Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.• 

Keep your fingers off the trigger. Don't rely on your firearm's "safety" device.•

Keep the firearm unloaded when not in use.

SECOND AMENDMENT FOUNDATION TRAINING DIVISION:

Guns should always be pointed in a safe direction

Unload all firearms when not in use.

Never touch the trigger until you're on target.

Gunsite Academy:

1. All guns are always loaded

2.  Never point your weapon at anything you're not willing to destroy

3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.

4. Always be sure of your target and what's beyond.

United States Marines

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded

2. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot

3. Keep finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire

4. Keep weapon “on safe” until you intend to fire

The Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun violence

AKA; The Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in América

• No gun-safety rules or information  provided.

Please do not consider this to be Legal Advice. Legal advice is something that you pay an attorney to provide concerning you and a specific legal issue. The following is a discussion of legal issues. Please Stay Safe.

Safety

• Before even talking about safety the most important rule is: Always maintain control of your gun.  Your holsters, belts, lock boxes, gun safes are always about maintaining control
• Always having control keeps you safe and keeps others safe
• Choosing a less control option is choosing to be less safe

It’s about safety

• Your choice to carry a gun is choosing to be safer
• When you compromise basic gun safety rules, even a little, you’re making it less safe for you and those around you
• Carrying a handgun is about being prepared to safely protect yourself or others

A defensive gun use is low frequency, high consequence event

You or a friend could be hurt or you could hurt someone else

You could save your life or the life of another

Don’ts

You don’t carry a gun to threaten or coerce others

You don’t carry a gun to show off or to be cool

Rules

• Using force to protect yourself is a “low frequency-high consequence proposition. 
• Most of the time you don’t need your gun. But you don’t know when you do. 
• You likely can exist without going places where it is not legal to possess a gun

Learning

• Some people are just arrogant enough think they know everything. They take a class because it’s a requirement. Been doing it for a long time, can’t teach an old dog new tricks, etc. Maybe they think that the subject isn’t important.
• Others just don’t learn well. In training many just miss things. An instructor who thinks everything taught is everything learned is grossly overestimating his ability.  
• Others many times hear things different than what was meant by the speaker.

Minnesota Rules. Not all inclusive and certainly subject to change or interpretation.

• You need a permit to carry a gun in public or private places open to the public. A permit is needed to carry, hold, or possess a pistol or hand gun in a motor vehicle, snowmobile, or boat, or on or about the person's clothes or the person, or otherwise in possession or control in a public place including private property open to the public. (see MN statute 624.714; Subd 1a)
• Permits to Carry expire in five years. You can apply to renew your permit 90 days before your permit expires in the same manner that you applied for your permit. Your new permit when issued will have an expiration date five years from your old expiration date. The application process, training requirement and authority to issue are the same for renewing a permit as for applying for a new permit. . (see MN statute 624.714; Subd 2a)
• When carrying you are required to have your permit and a government issued picture ID n your possession when carrying. (see MN statute 624.714; Subd 1b)
• Generally, you are allowed to safely store your gun in your car in parking facilities including public parking, employee parking, retail parking, schools, daycare, colleges or trade schools. Owners and operators of parking facilities are not allowed to have policies that prohibit safe storage in parking facilities. . (see MN statute 624.714; Subd 17; (C); Subd 18 ( C ) and MN statute 609.66; Subd 1d; (f)(3))

Schools or Daycare 

• Guns are not allowed in K-12 schools (public or private) in the building as well as the improved property around a school.  (see MN statute 609.66; Subd 1d)
• Guns are not allowed in any vehicle while used to transport students for student activities. (see MN statute 609.66; Subd 1d,4 iii)
• Guns are not allowed in daycare centers when students are present. (see MN statute 609.66; Subd 1d)
• Guns are not allowed in facilities not owned by a school while being used for school activities.  (see MN statute 609.66; Subd 1d)
• Exceptions: You may possess a gun in a parking facility and safely store that gun in your car in that parking facility.  (see MN statute 609.66; Subd 1d; f)

Other places:

• Guns are not allowed in jails, lock-ups or correctional facilities.  (see MN statute 243.55)
• Guns are not allowed in State Hospital buildings or grounds. (see MN statute 243.55)
• Guns are not allowed in a County Courthouse. (see MN statute 609.66; Subd 1g)
• Guns are not allowed in Court Controlled facilities

Private property open to the public is allowed to have a policy prohibiting carry on that property. This policy is enforceable if the person carrying has been informed of the policy and is asked to comply with the policy but does not comply. The owner or manager can request assistance from law enforcement. (see MN statute 624.714; Subd 17)

Possessing a loaded firearm while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance is a criminal offense and could result in a permit being suspended or revoked, fines or confinement. (see MN statute 624.7142)

• Submitting to alcohol or chemical test required with suspicion that subject is under the influence (see MN Statute 624.7143)
• Carrying guns in a Federal Courthouse is prohibited. Carry on other Federal Property is typically regulated by agency regulation  (see 18 USC; 930a; see also Code of Federal Regulations)

Carrying a gun on other Federal property may be prohibited by statute or regulation and could result in fines or incarceration depending on the facility or the agency involved.

Currently there is no registration of guns in Minnesota. (Jan 1, 2024)

Even private party gun transfers and sales require a purchase permit, carry permit or other approved background check and require sellers and buyers to maintain record of the sale. If you are not sure, you can always have a licensed gun dealer assist you in making a legal transfer. (MN statute 624.7132; 624.7131; 624.7133; 624.7134)

You are required to have a Permit to Purchase to purchase a handgun from a licensed dealer in Minnesota. You can use your Permit to Carry as a Permit to Purchase. You can use your Permit to Purchase or Permit to Carry as a background check when making a private party purchase.

Your Permit to Carry allows you to carry a gun but does not give you any special privileges.

You are not required to carry your gun concealed, but it is generally safer.

• You are allowed to carry more than one gun. (MN statute 624.714)
• Your Permit to Carry a Pistol allows you to carry a rifle or shotgun in public. Keep in mind that threatening another person is against the law. In most cases carrying a long gun in public will be perceived as a threat. Waving your permit at the officer arresting you for threatening others will not stop the officer from arresting you for threatening another. Exception to carrying a long gun in public with a permit to carry a pistol (MN Statute 624.7181).
• If you injure another person with a firearm, you have a duty to render aid. (MN Statute 609.662) 
• Reckless handling of a firearm. Pointing a gun at another. Reckless discharge endangering another. Providing a firearm to another who uses that firearm to commit a crime. Transferring a firearm without a background check. Possession in a courthouse or State Capital grounds. ((MN statute 609.66) 
• Not taking reasonable action to safely store a firearm where a person under age 18 could gain access (MN Statute 609.666).
• Threatening another person (MN 609.713).

(c) 2026 10-32 Trainers LLC; Martin Wick

Please do not consider this to be Legal Advice. The following legal information applies to the general application of law. It is not Legal Advice and is not meant as legal counsel to a client about a specific case that could affect the legal liberties and obligations of the person receiving the advice. 

A Permit to Carry is not required to carry a gun:

In a person's home, a business owned or managed by the person, or land possessed by the person; a gun show, gun shop, a hunting or target shooting facility, or the woods, fields, or waters where the person is lawfully carrying a gun for the purpose of hunting, target shooting or other lawful activity involving firearms.

Minnesota Permit to Carry a Gun Details

The holder of a permit to carry must have the permit card and a driver's license, state identification card, or other government-issued photo identification in immediate possession at all times when carrying a pistol and must display the permit card and identification document upon lawful demand by a peace officer, 

Your Minnesota Permit to Carry authorizes you to carry a handgun:

There is no requirement that you carry your gun concealed or even in a holster

You are allowed to carry “more than one” gun

With some exceptions, your permit allows you to carry your gun:

In a motor vehicle, snowmobile, boat, on or about the person's clothes, or otherwise in possession or control in a public place.

When on public property

When on private property that is open to the public.

"Public place" is property owned, leased, or controlled by a governmental unit or private property that is regularly and frequently open to or made available for use by the public in sufficient numbers to give clear notice of the property's current dedication to public use. 

When on private property with permission of the owner.

Employers; public or private trade schools, colleges and universities.

An employer, whether public or private, may establish policies that restrict the carry or possession of firearms by its employees while acting in the course and scope of employment. Employment related civil sanctions may be invoked for a violation.

Parking Facilities 

Safe storage of firearms may not be prohibited in parking facilities owned or operated by Businesses, Employers, Day Care Centers, Public or Private Schools, Colleges, Trade Schools, public parking operators.Exceptions, where carrying a gun, even with a permit, is a violation of Minnesota Law

Carry Prohibitions by Statute

Schools, public or private, grades K-12 including the building and the surrounding improved property owned or leased by the school.

Property under temporary control of a school or a consortium of schools

School buses or any other vehicle used to transport students for school activities

Day care centers, when children are present.

State Hospitals, jails, correctional facilities, lock-ups or prisons, including improved property.

County Courthouses and any court controlled facilities

Properties owned or controlled by U.S. Federal agencies with a prohibition listed in Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) and USC 18; Section 930a.

Prohibiting Carry on Private Property open to the public (Policy Exception for private property open to the public):

If the property owner or operator has informed the person carrying the facility has a policy banning carrying guns (this could be with a sign or verbal) and;

The person carrying has been verbally requested by the owner or operator to comply with the policy and;

The person carrying has not complied with the request. The owner or operator may request law enforcement to enforce the request issuing a petty misdemeanor citation for failure to leave when requested.

Issuance of a citation could put the person carrying in violation of 609.605, if they fail to leave the premises after being issued this citation. 

Carrying a gun under the influence

Carrying a gun with a blood alcohol over 0.04 is a misdemeanor.

Carrying a gun with a blood alcohol over 0.1 is a misdemeanor; second offense in one year is a gross misdemeanor. 

Carrying a gun under the influence of a controlled substance has the same penalty as a blood alcohol over 0.1.

In addition to any criminal penalty, your permit may be revoked or suspended.

You could be fined and/or your permit revoked if you refuse to take a blood or urine test.

You are allowed to speak with an attorney before taking a test for alcohol or controlled substance.

Routine Police Encounters

Be safe, for both you and the officer

You don’t need to volunteer that you are carrying

You don’t know why the officer is stopping you. The officer needs “cause” to stop you, but he doesn’t need to inform you of the cause.

Keep your hands where they can be seen.

Don’t make any unusual or sudden moves

Follow directions

You do need to answer truthfully if you are asked if you are carrying a gun or other weapon. (misdemeanor)

(C) 2026 10-32 Trainers LLC; Martin Wick