ST. PAUL, Minn. – Some of the Legislature’s 2023 gun safety laws went into effect August 1. One exxpands background checks for gun transfers. Background checks now cover transfers of pistol and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons. This means that private sales and swap meets will be held to the same standard as purchases from a licensed firearms dealer. Another new rule imposes penalties for possessing or using a machine gun, trigger activator, or machine gun conversion kits. A violation can mean 20 years in prison and a $35,000 fine. Starting January 1, a so-called “red flag law” kicks in to allow family or police to petition a judge to temporarily remove guns from people regarded as a \threat to themselves or others.
