Saint Paul, MN – Minnesota voters have returned a DFL trifecta to the State Capitol, giving anti-gun legislators larger majorities than they held during the 2023-24 legislative session. The results present a significant challenge for Minnesota gun owners, particularly as DFL leaders have already signaled their intention to advance sweeping gun-control legislation.
Less than 24 hours after the election, Governor-elect Amy Klobuchar told reporters that SF 4067 “is going to get passed” and “certainly should be one of our top priorities.” The legislation would ban commonly owned rifles, impose a 17-round magazine restriction, and require mandatory certification of firearms Minnesotans already lawfully own. The bill previously passed the Minnesota Senate by a single vote.
However, there is hope. During the last DFL trifecta, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus and its members successfully organized against these proposals and helped prevent some of the most sweeping restrictions from becoming law. That effort demonstrated the importance of an engaged and organized gun-owning community. With another DFL trifecta taking office, that work will be more important than ever. The Caucus will also continue litigating unconstitutional restrictions when the Legislature will not listen.
“An election does not change the Constitution or diminish the rights of law-abiding Minnesotans,” said Bryan Strawser, Chairman of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. “Governor-elect Klobuchar signaled that she intends to pass major gun control legislation less than 24 hours after she was elected. We will be at the Capitol defending the rights of Minnesota gun owners, and we need our members and supporters engaged from the beginning of the session.”
“The Legislature has repeatedly demonstrated little regard for the constitutional limits on its authority to restrict Second Amendment rights,” said Rob Doar, President of the Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center. “We’ve successfully challenged those restrictions in court, and we’ll continue to do so.”
“Minnesota gun owners have already demonstrated that organized, sustained engagement can make a difference at the Capitol,” said Anna Leamy, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy for the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. “We cannot afford to wait until legislation is moving through committee to get involved. Now is the time to contact legislators, support the Caucus, and make sure lawmakers understand that Minnesotans will not stand by while their constitutional rights are stripped away.”
The 2027 legislative session begins January 12. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus encourages all Minnesota gun owners to join or renew their membership at gunowners.mn/join and sign up for legislative action alerts at gunowners.mn/action.