Handgun Permits on the Rise in Northfield, Rice County

Purchasing a handgun for personal use is not a simple process in Minnesota, but that hasn't stopped an ever-growing number of Northfield residents. 

In 2006, 46 Northfield residents were issued a permit to purchase a handgun, according to data provided by the , which is responsible for processing and approving those permits. Five years later, in 2011, the police department issued 93 permits—a 100-percent increase.

Northfield is on track to break that record this year, Deputy Chief Chuck Walerius said. As of May 18, 2012, the department processed 47 permit requests, Walerius said, putting it on pace for more than 100 permits this year. Those numbers include both new permits and annual renewals.

Number of Permits to Purchase a Handgun Issued in Northfield Since 2007

Information courtesy of the Northfield Police Department. Numbers include new permit applications and renewals.

Northfield isn't the only local law enforcement agency to see an increase in number of applicants for handgun-related permits.

In 2010, the first year in which Rice County kept a record, the county issued 156 permits to purchase a handgun. That number increased to 214 last year and is at 119 through April 30 this year.

In 2007, Rice County issued 99 new permits to carry handguns, not including permit renewals, according to data from the Rice County Sheriff’s Office. The number of permits spiked in 2009 with 263 issued before declining in 2010 to 160. Permits issued increased to 191 in 2011 and the county has issued 139 permits this year through April 30, putting it on pace to beat 2009.

In 2007, Dakota County issued 455 new permits to carry handguns, not including permit renewals. In 2011, that number jumped 209 percent to 1,407, according to data from the Dakota County Sheriff's Office. So far in 2012, the department has received 613 applications.

Number of Permits to Carry a Handgun Issued in Rice County Since 2007

Information courtesy of the Rice County Sheriff's Office. Numbers do not include permit renewals.

Number of Permits to Carry a Handgun Issued in Dakota County Since 2007

Information courtesy of the Dakota County Sheriff's Office. Numbers do not include permit renewals.

Handling the increase

Unlike a permit to purchase a handgun, which must be renewed every year, a permit to carry a handgun stays valid for five years and allows residents to keep a handgun in their possession while in public. In order to receive a permit to carry, a person must also complete a handgun training course from a certified instructor.

The number of permit to carry applicants has grown so much that Rice County Deputy Chief Dave Stensrud says the department could use more help processing the permits, which include a background check.

“It takes a considerable amount of time to do that,” he said. “I think we’re at the point that we could even use another half-time position to keep up with this and other duties.”

Under Minnesota state law, a person interested in owning a handgun must first apply for a permit to purchase a handgun from his or her local law enforcement agency. If a person lives in an unincorporated area, the local sheriff is responsible for processing requests.

Each time a permit comes in, the department's investigators must complete criminal history checks, review court records and contact the Minnesota Department of Human Services to make sure the applicant has never been committed for a mental illness.

Stensrud said there are days his office sees as many as 10 permit requests.

For Northfield, Walerius said the workload isn’t as taxing, saying he believes the administrative staff have been able to handle the increase well. He said on average he sees three or four requests come to his desk weekly.

Why the increase?

Both Stensrud and Walerius said they believe election years—particularly presidential—create concern over gun laws.

“There’s some uncertainty who will end up controlling the Congress and (among) those who support gun rights,” Stensrud said.

“There’s a perception there that their right or liberty might be taken away from them,” added Walerius.

Dakota County Sheriff Dave Bellows acknowledged that there was a concern about handgun regulations after President Barack Obama, a Democrat, was elected in 2008, but doesn't think politics plays a significant part in the increase.

Nor are safety concerns a factor, Bellows said. Violent crime rates are decreasing in Dakota County and the surrounding area and more residents feel safe in their neighborhoods, Bellows said, citing resident surveys conducted across the county.

It’s another case where perception might trump reality, Walerius said.

“I think people feel with the economic times and everything else they feel a little more safe and more protective of their own entities, possessions and properties,” he said.

Gun rights, politics and fear aside, Stensrud said he thinks residents just might be more educated on the issue than in years past.

“I think (people) in general are just more in tune with what their legal rights are and they’re more able to exercise them if they think are appropriate.”

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