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Home » Minnesota Sheriffs & Gun Control

MN Gun Owners Law Center

Minnesota Sheriffs & Gun Control

Last updated March 28, 2023, during the 2023 legislative session. Sheriff positions and contact details may have changed since. Two of the bills below later became law as part of SF 2909: universal background checks and red flag orders.

Map of where Minnesota county sheriffs stood on gun control bills in March 2023

In Minnesota, County Sheriffs are charged to “keep and preserve the peace of the county.” They are considered the Chief Law Enforcement Officers of their respective counties and the only law enforcement leaders elected independently by the people to lead their agency.

Across the state, many County Sheriffs have spoken out against the anti-gun metro DFL’s gun control agenda.

Below you can find out where your County Sheriff stands, how to contact them to request they take action, and how you can individually take action on these bills.

Where the sheriffs stand

As of March 28, 2023, sheriffs in 79 counties were pushing back against at least some gun control. The graphic may not reflect every update.

On a phone, scroll the table to the right to see where your sheriff stands.

Private statements made by sheriffs in email or conversations are not “public statements” – they’re not something a sheriff can be held accountable to. We look for letters to legislators or public statements posted on websites and/or social media.

Have corrections or new letters? Send to us at contact@gunowners.mn and we’ll update as quickly as we can.

CountyPublic statementHF14HF15HF396HF601SheriffPhoneAddress
AitkinYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Daniel Guida(218) 927-7435218 1st St. NW, Aitkin, MN 56431
AnokaSilentSilentSilentSilentSheriff Brad Wise(763) 324-501013301 Hanson Blvd NW, Andover, MN 55304
BeckerYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Todd Glander(218) 847-2661925 Lake Avenue, PO Box 702, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
BeltramiYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jason Riggs(218) 333-9111613 Minnesota Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN 56601
BentonYesOpposeOpposeOpposeOpposeSheriff Troy Heck(320) 968-7201581 Highway 23, PO Box 159, Foley, MN 56329
Big StoneYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Mark Brown(320) 839-355811 – 2nd Street SE, Suite 101, Ortonville, MN 56278
Blue EarthYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jeff Wersal(507) 304-4800401 Carver Road, PO Box 228, Mankato, MN 56002
BrownYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jason Seidl(507) 233-670015 South Washington Street, PO Box 877, New Ulm, MN 56073
CarltonYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Kelly Lake(218) 384-3236317 Walnut Avenue, PO Box 530, Carlton, MN 55718
CarverYesSupportNeutralNeutralNeutralSheriff Jason Kamerud(952) 361-1281606 East 4th Street, Chaska, MN 55318
CassYesOpposeOpposeOpposeOpposeSheriff Bryan Welk(218) 547-1424300 Minnesota Ave, PO Box 1119, Walker, MN 56484
ChippewaYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Derek Olson(320) 269-2121629 North 11th Street #14, Montevideo, MN 56265
ChisagoYesOpposeOpposeOpposeOpposeSheriff Brandon Thyen(651) 213-630015230 Per Road, Center City, MN 55012
ClayYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Mark Empting(218) 299-5151915 – 9th Avenue N, Moorhead, MN 56560
ClearwaterYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Darin Halverson(218) 694-6226213 Main Avenue N, Dept. 102, Bagley, MN 56621
CookYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Pat Eliasen(218) 387-3030143 Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604
CottonwoodYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jason Purrington(507) 831-1375902 – 5th Avenue, Windom, MN 56101
Crow WingYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Eric Klang(218) 829-4749304 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401
DakotaSilentSilentSilentSilentSheriff Joe Leko(651) 438-47101580 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033
DodgeYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Scott Rose(507) 635-620022 East 6th Street, Dept. 201, Mantorville, MN 55955
DouglasYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Troy Wolbersen(320) 726-8151216 – 7th Avenue West, Alexandria, MN 56308
FaribaultYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Michael Gormley(507) 526-5148320 Dr. H. Russ Street, Blue Earth, MN 56013
FillmoreYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff John DeGeorge(507) 765-3874901 Houston Street NW, Preston, MN 55965
FreebornYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Ryan Shea(507) 377-5205411 Broadway Ave S, PO Drawer 170, Albert Lea, MN 56007
GoodhueYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Marty Kelly(651) 267-2600430 West 6th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066
GrantYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jon Combs(218) 685-828010 – 2nd Street NE, Elbow Lake, MN 56531
HennepinSilentSilentSilentSilentSheriff Dawanna Witt(612) 348-3744Courthouse Room 6, 350 South 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415
HoustonYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Brian Swedberg(507) 725-3379306 South Marshall St, Suite 1100, Caledonia, MN 55921
HubbardYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Cory Aukes(218) 732-3331301 Court Avenue, Park Rapids, MN 56470
IsantiYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Wayne Seiberlich(763) 691-24112440 S. Main Street, Cambridge, MN 55008
ItascaYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Joe Dasovich(218) 326-3477440 – 1st Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
JacksonYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Shawn Haken(507) 847-4420400 Sherman Street, PO Box 229, Jackson, MN 56143
KanabecYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Brian Smith(320) 679-840018 North Vine Street, Suite 143, Mora, MN 55051
KandiyohiYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Eric Tollefson(320) 214-67002201 – 23rd Street NE, Suite 101, Willmar, MN 56201
KittsonYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Matt Vig(218) 843-3535410 – 5th Street South, Suite 102, Hallock, MN 56728
KoochichingYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Perryn Hedlund(218) 283-4416715 – 4th Street, International Falls, MN 56649
Lac qui ParleYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Allen Anderson(320) 598-3720600 – West 6th Street, Madison, MN 56256
LakeYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Nathan Stadler(218) 834-8386613 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, MN 55616
Lake of the WoodsYesOpposeOpposeOpposeOpposeSheriff Gary Fish(218) 634-1143206 – 8th Avenue SE, Suite 300, Baudette, MN 56623
Le SueurYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Brett Mason(507) 357-8245435 E Derrynane Street, STE 1100, Le Center, MN 56057
LincolnYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Chad Meester(507) 694-1664322 North Wallace, PO Box 166, Invanhoe, MN 56142
LyonYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Eric Wallen(507) 537-7666611 West Main Street, PO Box 28, Marshall, MN 56258
MahnomenYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Josh Guenther(218) 935-2255PO Box 440, Mahnomen, MN 56557
MarshallYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jason Boman(218) 745-5411208 East Colvin Ave., Suite 1, Warren, MN 56762
MartinYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jeffrey Markquart(507) 238-3166201 Lake Avenue, Suite 198, Fairmont, MN 56031
McLeodSilentSilentSilentSilentSheriff Tim Langenfeld(320) 864-1350801 East 10th Street, Glencoe, MN 55336
MeekerYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Brian Cruze(320) 693-5400326 North Ramsey Avenue, Litchfield, MN 55355
Mille LacsYesOpposeOpposeOpposeSilentSheriff Kyle Burton(320) 983-8250640 – 3rd Street SE, Milaca, MN 56353
MorrisonYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Shawn Larsen(320) 632-9233213 First Avenue SE, Little Falls, MN 56345
MowerYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Steven Sandvik(507) 437-9400201 – 1st Street NE, Austin, MN 55912
MurrayYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Heath Landsman(507) 836-82182500 – 28th Street, PO Box 57, Slayton, MN 56172
NicolletYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff David Lange(507) 931-1570501 South Minnesota Ave. PO Box 117, St. Peter, MN 56082
NoblesYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Ryan Kruger(507) 295-54001530 Airport Road, Suite 100, Worthington, MN 56187
NormanYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Ben Fall(218) 784-711415 – 2nd Avenue East, Ada, MN 56510
OlmstedYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Kevin Torgerson(507) 328-6745101 – 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904
Otter TailYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Barry Fitzgibbons(218) 998-8555417 South Court Street, Fergus Falls, MN 56537
PenningtonYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Seth Vettleson(218) 681-6161102 – 1st Street West, PO Box 484, Thief River Falls, MN 56701
PineYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jeff Nelson(320) 629-8380635 Northridge Drive NW, Suite 130, Pine City, MN 55063
PipestoneYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Keith Vreeman(507) 825-6700416 South Hiawatha Ave., PO Box 220, Pipestone, MN 56164
PolkYesSilentOpposeOpposeSilentSheriff James Tadman(218) 281-0431600 Bruce Street, PO Box 416, Crookston, MN 56716
PopeYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Timothy Riley(320) 634-5411130 East Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, MN 56334
RamseySilentSilentSilentSilentSheriff Bob Fletcher(651) 266-9333425 Grove Street, St. Paul, MN 55101
Red LakeYesOpposeOpposeOpposeOpposeSheriff Mitchell Bernstein(218) 253-2996124 North Main, PO Box 306, Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
RedwoodYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jason Jacobson(507) 637-4036303 East 3rd Street, PO Box 47, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
RenvilleYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Scott Hable(320) 523-3771105 South 5th Street, Room 210, Olivia, MN 56277
RiceYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jesse Thomas(507) 332-6027118 3rd Street NW, Faribault, MN 55021
RockYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Evan Verbrugge(507) 283-50001000 North Blue Mound Avenue, PO Box 613, Luverne, MN 56156
RoseauYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Steven Gust(218) 463-1421604 – 5th Avenue SW, Roseau, MN 56751
ScottSilentSilentSilentSilentSheriff Luke Hennen(952) 496-8300301 Fuller Street South, Shakopee, MN 55379
SherburneYesOpposeOpposeOpposeOpposeSheriff Joel Brott(763) 765-350013880 Business Center Drive, Elk River, MN 55330
SibleyYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Patrick Nienaber(507) 237-4330419 Harrison Street, PO Box 102, Gaylord, MN 55334
St. LouisYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Gordon Ramsay(218) 726-2341100 N. 5th Avenue W, #103, Duluth, MN 55802
StearnsYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Steve Soyka(320) 259-3700807 Courthouse Square, PO Box 217, St. Cloud, MN 56302
SteeleYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Lon Thiele(507) 444-3800204 East Pearl Street, Owatonna, MN 55060
StevensYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jason Dingman(320) 208-6500400 Colorado Ave., Suite 401, Morris, MN 56267
SwiftYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff John Holtz(320) 843-3133301 -14th Street North, Suite 4, Benson, MN 56215
ToddYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Mike Allen(320) 732-2157115 – 3rd Street South, Long Prairie, MN 56347
TraverseYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Trevor Wright(320) 422-7800203 – 7th Street North, PO Box 826, Wheaton, MN 56296
WabashaYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Rodney Bartsh(651) 565-1000848 – 17th Street E, Suite 1, Wabasha, MN 55981
WadenaYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Michael Carr(218) 631-7600415 South Jefferson Street, Wadena, MN 56482
WasecaYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jay Dulas(507) 835-0510122 – 3rd Avenue NW, PO Box 226, Waseca, MN 56093
WashingtonSilentSilentSilentSilentSheriff Dan Starry(651) 430-760115015 – 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082
WatonwanYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Jared Bergeman(507) 375-3121715 – 3rd Street South, St. James, MN 56081
WilkinYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Tony Harris(218) 643-8544515 Dacotah Avenue, PO Box 30, Breckenridge, MN 56520
WinonaYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Ron Ganrude(507) 457-6368201 West 3rd Street, Winona, MN 55987
WrightYesOpposeOpposeOpposeOpposeSheriff Sean Deringer(763) 682-76223800 Braddock Ave. NE, Buffalo, MN 55313
Yellow MedicineYesSilentSilentOpposeSilentSheriff Bill Flaten(320) 313-3096415 9th Ave, Suite 103, Granite Falls, MN 56241

Demand your sheriff take a stand against gun control

If your sheriff has not taken a stand against gun control through a public statement, or hasn’t taken a stand against all of the gun control bills moving in the legislature, then it’s up to you as their constituent to reach out to them and find out where they stand.

Here’s what to do:

  • Email your county sheriff and ask them where they stand on these unconstitutional gun control bills. Demand, directly but politely, that they take a stand against the metro DFL gun control agenda.
  • Follow-up with a phone call to the department and ask to speak to the county sheriff.
  • Tell your friends, local gun clubs, and local gun shops what’s happening. Ask that they tell their friends and customers.

Some sheriffs will try to tell you that the Sheriffs’ Association lobbyist is working on these bills. Don’t accept that as an excuse for your elected sheriff not to take a stand.

Keep pushing until they make a statement!

When they do make a statement, or they send you some reply in email, forward it to us at contact@gunowners.mn.

Learn about the bills and take action

  • The following bills were moving in the Legislature in 2023:
    • HF14: Universal background checks aka “universal gun registration”
    • HF15: Red Flag Gun Confiscation Orders
    • HF396: Unsafe/defenseless storage
    • HF601: Mandatory lost & stolen reporting
  • Learn about the gun control bills on our Bill Tracker

Take action

It is critical that you take action and let your legislators know exactly where you stand on these bills.

Contact your legislators through our Action Center.

Get in the fight

We’re up against a well-organized and well-funded metro DFL anti-gun agenda, funded by Michael Bloomberg and others, who hold the majority in the Minnesota House & Senate – along with the Governor’s mansion.

We need you in the fight to help stop this gun control agenda.

Here’s how to step up and get involved:

Then, tell all of your friends to join as well!

Fund the fight in court

Lawsuits and amicus briefs are paid for by gifts to the MN Gun Owners Law Center, a 501(c)(3). Your gift may be tax-deductible.

Donate to the Law Center

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