In a continued effort to make it harder for guns to fall into the wrong hands, Minnesota lawmakers have increased the penalties for anyone convicted of make a straw purchase.
A straw purchase is the term used to describe the action of one person buying or transferring a gun to another person who cannot legally obtain or possess one. For example, if your cousin is out on parole and is specifically banned from possessing a firearm, you could be found guilty if you buy a gun and give it it to your cousin. Anyone who buys a weapon and delivers it to someone who cannot legally possess a gun will be held accountable under the updated law.
Felony Straw Gun Purchase
Straw purchases were always illegal, but they were considered a gross misdemeanor offense under the old law, which was punishable by up to a year in jail and fines up to $3,000. Under the updated law, the offense will be considered a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Moreover, if the gun is used during the commission of a violent crime, the original purchaser could face even stiffer penalties; up to five years in jail and fines up to $20,000.
Republicans had been pushing for increased penalties for years, but this year the DFL majority endorsed the change, due in large part to the shooting deaths of three Burnsville officers who were killed in the line of duty in February. The shooter was not allowed to legally possess a firearm due to a previous felony conviction, and federal prosecutors have already sought charges against the man’s girlfriend for illegally buying guns for him.
“The problem we’re seeing here is keeping firearms out of the hands of the wrong people. And when there are this many firearms on the streets, when they are this accessible to people, tragedies….are just all too common,” Gov. Tim Walz said.
The updated penalties will officially go on the books on August 1.
It’s never a good idea to purchase something for someone who cannot purchase it for themselves because of legal reasons. Don’t buy alcohol for individuals who are underage, and don’t ever purchase a firearm for someone else who cannot legally obtain or possess one. Ignorance is no excuse, and the court will not let you off easy because you didn’t know you were doing something illegal. The onus is on you to make sure a transfer of firearms occurs legally, so do your research and don’t transfer firearms to someone who can’t illegal own them.
For more information, or for help with a different criminal matter, reach out to the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
