Over 51K handgun carry permits issued in Minnesota in 2019, BCA report says

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) released its annual report on handgun carry permits and permit holders on Monday.

The BCA said a total of 53,310 permits were applied for in 2019, and 51,404 were issued.

Below is the number of permits issued each of the past five years:

2019 – 51,404
2018 – 66,053
2017 – 55,069
2016 – 71,156
2015 – 44,696

The top five counties for five-year permits issued last year were:

Hennepin – 6,124
Anoka – 3,672
Dakota – 3,210
Ramsey – 3,036
St. Louis – 2,824

Meanwhile, 143 permits were suspended, 33 revoked and 656 denied in 2019, the BCA said.

Sheriffs also reported 1,891 crimes by individuals with permits in 2019, and nearly 58% were DWIs or other traffic offenses.

The BCA lists the total number of valid permits in Minnesota now as 301,268.