Expanding Second Amendment Freedoms through Legal Action
The Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center (MNGOLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to challenging unlawful restrictions and advancing the right to keep and bear arms.
Our Areas of Focus
At the Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center, our work is laser-focused on expanding Second Amendment freedoms through strategic, offensive litigation.
Here’s how we’re making an impact:
Challenging Unlawful Restrictions
We sue government agencies and officials who impose unlawful restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms. From state statutes to local regulations, if it violates the Constitution, we’ll take it to court.
Filing Key Cases
Not every case needs to be a blockbuster to advance freedom. We pursue both major challenges and smaller-scale lawsuits that chip away at unconstitutional restrictions — ensuring steady progress for gun owners.
Submitting Amicus Briefs Nationwide
The fight for the Second Amendment doesn’t stop at Minnesota’s borders. We file amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs in key Second Amendment cases across the country, helping shape precedent that protects gun owners everywhere.
Building Strategic Partnerships
We work alongside national organizations like the Second Amendment Foundation, Firearms Policy Coalition, and others to coordinate litigation strategy and maximize impact nationwide.
Educating the Public & Legal Community
Courts don’t operate in a vacuum. We provide critical legal analysis to legislators, media, and the public, making sure the debate over the Second Amendment is grounded in constitutional truth, not political spin.
Maximizing Donor Resources
By leveraging in-house counsel, we deliver high-impact litigation without the high overhead of outside law firms. Every dollar goes directly toward restoring and expanding your rights.
Learn about Laws & Case Law
Federal Law
Federal law generally defines very broad prohibitions and statutory restrictions on the ownership, purchasing, possession, and transportation of firearms across the country. In addition, federal law contains the restrictions on the ownership of automatic firearms (machine guns), suppressors, and short-barreled rifles and shotguns.
Learn more about Federal Firearms Laws
Minnesota Law
Minnesota state law contains numerous statutes that regulate the ownership, purchasing, possession, storage and carrying of firearms within the State of Minnesota.
Learn more about Minnesota Firearms Laws
You may also find our Minnesota Gun Laws Quick Reference Guide valuable – it’s intended to provide a simple overview of the key statutes in Minnesota covering the possession and use of firearms and legal force in Minnesota.
Case Law
There are a number of federal and Minnesota appellate court cases that have impacted firearms laws in Minnesota. We provide a partial list here of the most important cases from our perspective.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have assembled a set of Frequently Asked Questions based on the questions that we frequently received here at the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. While these should not be construed as legal advice in any way, shape, or form, they were crafted by a panel of credible firearms instructors and experts in Minnesota.
Legal Actions
Recent Cases
- February 2025: MN Gun Owners Caucus v. Walz. State constitutional claim for violating the single-subject provisions in the Minnesota Constitution, specifically asking for the court to rule the Binary Trigger Ban was passed unconstitutionally. The Caucus is the plaintiff in this case.
- July 2022: State v. Anderson. Sherburne County criminal prosecution of Walker Anderson for possessing a personally made firearm without a serial number. The Caucus assisted defense counsel with this case. The case was dismissed after the MN Supreme Court ruled in State v. Vagle in August 2025.
- June 2021: Worth v. Harrington. Federal Second Amendment constitutional challenge to Minnesota’s ban on the right to bear arms as to law-abiding young adults. The Caucus is a plaintiff in this case.
Previous Cases
- 2015: Ramsey County Elections: During the 2015 elections, Ramsey County posted gun ban signs at polling places throughout the county. In February 2016, Ramsey County agreed to revise their policy and training to reflect state law.
- 2019: Anoka Technical College / Minnesota State University System: Anoka Technical College banned firearms on the entire campus for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors, in violation of Minnesota’s preemption statutes. Minnesota State agreed to revise their policies, remove signing except for specific areas being used for K-12 activities, and follow Minnesota’s preemption statutes.
- August 2021: Christopher v. Ramsey County, et al. State preemption challenge to the Minnesota State Fair’s illegal and unconstitutional prohibition on the lawful, permitted carry of firearms at the State Fair and Fairgrounds.
Plaintiff Search
To bring a legal case, we need to find individuals impacted directly by a law, regulation, policy, or other governmental action to step up and join the case as a named plaintiff. This means you’re part of the legal action and directly assert a claim against a government entity or government actor.
Amicus Briefs
An amicus brief, or amicus curiae brief, is a legal briefing submitted to a court by a non-party (often an individual, organization, or government entity) with a strong interest in the case. It provides additional arguments, expertise, or perspectives to help the court decide but does not directly represent either litigant.
The Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center files amicus briefs in federal cases across the country because threats to the Second Amendment anywhere can set legal precedents that impact gun owners everywhere. By weighing in on key cases, we help ensure that courts consider strong constitutional arguments and defend the rights of law-abiding gun owners nationwide.
Our advocacy extends beyond Minnesota because protecting the Second Amendment requires vigilance at every level of the judicial system.
Amicus Filings
- September 2025: Duncan v. Bonta. Along with the Second Amendment Foundation and the Second Amendment Law Center, we argue that the US Supreme Court should grant cert and hear this appeal challenging California’s ban on “high capacity” magazines.
- April 2025: Wolford v. Lopez. Along with the California Rifle and Pistol Association, Operation Blazing Sword, the Pink Pistols, the NRA, and other groups, we argue that the US Supreme Court should grant cert and hear this appeal challenging the banning of lawful carry in public places in states like Hawaii and California.
- March 2025: US v. Morgan. Along with the California Rifle and Pistol Association, Gun Owners of America, and other groups, we argued that the plain text of the Second Amendment indisputably applies to machine guns as constitutionally protected firearms. We also argue more broadly that historical tradition confirms that the Second Amendment protects firearms that are useful in combat and warfare.
- July 2021: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Kevin P. Braun. Along with the Second Amendment Foundation and 11 other state gun rights groups, we have filed an Amicus Brief with the United States Supreme Court in this case. The court ruled 6-3 that the Second Amendment protects a right to carry a handgun outside the home on June 23rd, 2022.
Leadership
Rob Doar, President
Rob Doar is the President of the Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center and a dedicated advocate for the constitutional rights of Minnesotans. He was honored with the 2024 Defender of Liberty Award from the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Rob earned his J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Bemidji State University, and an A.S. in Law Enforcement along with a Certificate in Public Safety Leadership from Century College. He is also a POST Skills graduate from Hennepin Technical College.
How You Can Help
The fight for the Second Amendment isn’t won by words alone — it’s won by action. Here’s how you can join us:
Make a Tax-Deductible Donation
Every dollar fuels aggressive legal action to hold government accountable and strike down unlawful restrictions. Your support directly funds lawsuits that restore freedom.
Stay Informed
Sign up for updates and be the first to know about our cases, court victories, and new challenges. Knowledge is power — and we’ll make sure you have it.
Signup here.
Spread the Word
Tell your friends, family, and fellow gun owners about the Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center. Share our mission, amplify our victories, and help us build unstoppable momentum.
Together, we can restore freedoms, expand rights, and make Minnesota a leader in the fight for the Second Amendment.
Contact the MN Gun Owners Law Center
Contact us anytime at contact@gunowners.mn.
Please note: The Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center is not a criminal defense firm and does not represent individuals in criminal cases. However, we will gladly connect you with competent counsel for specific legal matters.
Disclaimer
The Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center (MNGOLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are not a law firm and do not provide direct legal representation or handle individual criminal cases.
Any resources, articles, or commentary provided on this page are for educational and informational purposes only.
Communication with MNGOLC, including emails or contact form submissions, does not create an attorney–client relationship unless explicitly confirmed in writing by authorized counsel. While we may be able to assist your attorney with Second Amendment arguments as resources and time permit, MNGOLC does not replace or act as your personal legal counsel.