MN Gun Owners Caucus v. Walz (Binary Trigger & Single Subject Clause)

This case was filed in Ramsey County District Court on February 12, 2025.

The first hearing in this case was held on May 13, 2025, at 1:30 PM.

Current Case Status

• Judge Castro has ruled that the MN Gun Owners Caucus has standing to bring this case (see below)
• We are now awaiting the filing of additional briefings in the case:
  • June 28th:  The State & Hennepin County will file supplemental briefings on our Motion for Summary Judgment.
  • July 5th:  We will file our reply brief on our Motion for Summary Judgment.
• At some point after July 5th, we will have a hearing before Judge Castro to argue the merits of the case now that we have dealt with this initial procedural matter.

Until a decision is reached, the ban on binary triggers remains in effect.

Last Updated:  June 4th, 2025

Case Summary

In this case, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, in support of three harmed and anonymous individuals, is suing the State of Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, and BCA Superintendent Drew Evans over the unconstitutional passage of the Omnibus Tax Bill at the end of the 2024 legislative session, which included a ban on binary triggers.

Case Details

Case Title

Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus v Tim Walz, Keith Ellison, Mary Moriarty, and Drew Evans

Ramsey County Court Case #

62-CV-25-1083

Assigned Judge

Judge Leonardo Castro

News Coverage

• May 14, 2025:  MPR News – Minnesota court scrutinizes gun law tucked into 2024 tax bill

Case Filings

• February 12, 2025
  • MN Gun Owners Caucus Press Release
  • Initial Complaint
• April 15, 2025
  • MN Gun Owners Caucus:  Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment
  • MN Gun Owners Caucus:  Affidavit of Bryan Strawser, Chair
  • MN Gun Owners Caucus:  Affidavit of James F. Dickey, Attorney
  • Mary Moriarty:  Defendant Mary Moriarty’s Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss
  • State of Minnesota:  State Defendants’ Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss
• April 29, 2025
  • State of Minnesota:  State Defendants’ Memorandum in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment
  • State of Minnesota:  Declaration of Anna Veit-Carter in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
  • MN Gun Owners Caucus:  Plaintiff’s Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss
  • Mary Moriarty:  Defendant Mary Moriarty’s Response Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment
• May 2, 2025
  • Scheduling Order
• May 6, 2025
  • MN Gun Owners Caucus:  Plaintiff’s Reply Memorandum in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment
  • Mary Moriarty:  Defendant Mary Moriarty’s Reply Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss
  • State of Minnesota:  State Defendants’ Reply Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss
• May 13, 2025
  • Initial Hearing held on the above motions – Judge Castro took the hearing under advisement and will issue a decision.
  • Order of the Court re:  In-Camera Review of Affidavits
• May 21, 2025
  • State of Minnesota:  Letter re: Affidavits Supporting Associational Standing
  • MN Gun Owners Caucus:  Letter re: Affidavits Supporting Associational Standing
• May 23, 2025
  • Hearing:  Associational Standing Affidavits
  • Amended Order of the Court re:  In-Camera Review of Affidavits & Membership
• June 4, 2025
  • Order & Memorandum of Law on Associational Standing on behalf of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus

Counsel of Record

In this case, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus is represented by James V. F. Dickey, Doug Seaton, Alexandra Howell, and Austin Lysy of the Upper Midwest Law Center.

WANT TO SUPPORT OUR LEGAL & LITIGATION EFFORTS?

Our affiliated 501(c)(3), the Minnesota Gun Owners Support Fund, underwrites the majority of our legal action efforts.

You can make a tax-deductible donation directly to our Support Fund at this link.