Peace officer required to conduct testing of a person suspected of carrying a firearm while under the influence, penalty for carrying a firearm with an elevated blood alcohol concentration increased, and length of time a person is prohibited from carrying a firearm after conviction increased.

This bill requires peace officers in Minnesota to mandate breath tests for individuals suspected of carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It increases penalties for this offense, elevating repeat violations from misdemeanors to felonies and raising the punishment for carrying a firearm with an elevated blood alcohol concentration from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor. Additionally, the law extends the period during which convicted individuals are banned from carrying firearms, ranging from one year to a lifetime depending on the number of prior convictions. The legislation also clarifies that firearms involved in these violations will generally not be confiscated unless the offense is a second or subsequent one.