This past 2016 legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature proposed a measure that would have required persons convicted of a felony crime of violence to petition the court of original conviction in order to restore gun rights. Currently in Minnesota, there are no jurisdiction requirements for where a petition to restore the right to possess firearms must be filed. Petitioners can file their motion in any district court in Minnesota. Of course, it usually makes the most sense to petition the court where the underlying prohibiting offense was prosecuted. The case was overseen by that county prosecutor and sentenced by a district court judge in that county. But sometimes there are compelling reasons to petition in a different county. The county where a person resides is often the second choice, if that differs from the county of offense. If the petitioner has resided in a different county for years, is a part of that community, and ultimately hopes to obtain a permit to purchase or permit to carry a concealed weapon from the county in which he or she resides, it can make sense to file a motion there. Some cases also involve more than one conviction for a crime of violence in more than one county. In those circumstances, it makes the most sense and is most efficient to include both offenses on one petition, and to have one hearing. Any person filing a petition in a county different from where the underlying offense was prosecuted would be well serve to be ready to explain why they have chosen to file their motion in a different county, and to show that they have notified the original county of their request for relief.
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