Mandate Tracking Chips in Firearms

 

This Act mandates that all firearms manufactured or initially imported for sale within Minnesota must be permanently

equipped with a unique, encrypted electronic tracing chip at the time of manufacture. The State Department of Public

Safety will create a secure, state-level database linking this chip's unique identifier to the firearm's manufacturing

and initial legal distribution records. The main goal of this bill is to improve the ability of authorized Minnesota law

enforcement to quickly and accurately trace firearms used in crimes, which in turn promotes public safety and supports

criminal investigations

 

The growth of untraceable firearms, especially those moved into illegal markets, poses a serious threat to Minnesota's

public safety. Today's tracing methods are often slow, depend on paper records, and can be easily undermined by removing

existing serial numbers. By requiring a tamper-proof electronic tracing chip, this Act establishes a modern, permanent

digital connection between the firearm and its origin. This measure is needed to equip law enforcement with effective

tools to track the source of crime guns, discourage illegal trafficking, and boost accountability in firearm

distribution. Ultimately, this will help reduce firearm-related violence throughout the state.

 

A. Firearm: Any weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, intended to discharge a projectile by the action of an

explosive. This definition does not include antique firearms as defined by federal law.

B. Integrated Tracing Chip (ITC): A non-removable, encrypted electronic microchip that uses Radio Frequency

Identification or similar passive technology to transmit a unique, unchangeable identifier code when queried by

authorized law enforcement equipment. The ITC will be permanently embedded within the firearm's frame or receiver and

will not have real-time Global Positioning System (GPS) or location tracking capabilities.

 

Funding for the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to create, maintain, and secure the central State Tracing Database,

along with the purchase of authorized law enforcement scanning equipment and the auditing of Manufacturers, will come

from a new "Firearm Traceability and Safety Surcharge." This mandatory fee will be fifty dollars ($50.00) for each

firearm unit subject to the ITC mandate that is imported or manufactured for initial sale within Minnesota. All funds

from this surcharge will go into a dedicated "Crime Gun Tracing and Accountability Fund," managed by the DPS Bureau of

Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

 

The Department of Public Safety (DPS), working with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), will fully enforce this

Act.

A. Civil Penalties for Manufacturers: Any Manufacturer who does not comply with the ITC integration mandate after the

effective date will face a civil fine of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) for each untracked firearm.

B. State Licensing Action: Any Manufacturer that repeatedly and deliberately fails to comply may have their state

license or permit to sell, manufacture, or import firearms suspended or permanently revoked.

C. Misdemeanor: Any individual, except for authorized Manufacturers, who willfully tampers with, removes, or destroys an

Integrated Tracing Chip will be guilty of a Gross Misdemeanor

 

 

This act will take place January 1st, 2027 physical year