Tag: Minnesota Senate

Goodhue County MN Ends Shotgun-Only Deer Hunting Rule, Allows Rifles for 2026 Season
Goodhue County residents and hunters across Minnesota have reason to celebrate a major victory for common-sense firearm freedoms. Local commissioners recently decided against renewing an outdated ordinance that forced deer hunters into shotgun-only restrictions, effectively opening the door for legal rifle use in line with the rest of the state. This change takes effect for the 2026 season and marks another step toward treating responsible gun owners like adults rather than perpetual suspects.

The decision aligns Goodhue County with Minnesota’s broader regulations, eliminating an unnecessary layer of local bureaucracy that had singled out one county for extra hurdles. Hunters now gain access to the same tools available elsewhere in the state, allowing for more effective and ethical harvests without compromising safety or accuracy.

Goodhue County Minnesota

This move reflects growing pushback against piecemeal restrictions that chip away at Second Amendment protections under the guise of local control. Pro-2A advocates rightly point out that law-abiding citizens have long demonstrated the ability to handle rifles responsibly during deer season. The data from surrounding counties shows no spike in accidents or misuse when rifles are permitted under standard rules.

Local hunters can now plan for the upcoming seasons with greater flexibility. Whether choosing a traditional bolt-action or a modern semi-auto legal for deer, the focus stays on marksmanship, ethics, and enjoying the outdoors without arbitrary limits. County officials deserve credit for listening to constituents who made clear that one-size-fits-all shotgun mandates no longer made sense.

Broader implications stretch beyond Goodhue County. As more localities drop outdated firearm rules, the message strengthens that gun rights expand when citizens stay engaged and push back against incremental overreach. Minnesota hunters gain another reminder that consistent advocacy produces real results at the local level.

The 2026 season promises to be more accessible and enjoyable for everyone who values both hunting traditions and constitutional freedoms.

References
June 29, 2026
Eighth Circuit Upholds Minnesota Permit Reciprocity Law in McCoy v. Jacobson
The recent decision from the Eighth Circuit in McCoy v. Jacobson has gun owners across the Midwest taking a hard look at what real reciprocity means for law-abiding citizens who want to exercise their Second Amendment rights on the road. While the court upheld Minnesota’s narrow approach to recognizing out-of-state permits, the ruling underscores a bigger problem: states continuing to erect barriers that treat responsible carriers like potential threats instead of fellow Americans protected by the Constitution.

Minnesota’s gun-permit reciprocity law is constitutional despite excluding certain states, the Eighth Circuit ruled.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg Law

Minnesota’s law only honors permits from states with “comparable” requirements, effectively shutting out many shall-issue states that already meet basic standards. This creates a patchwork where a permit valid in Iowa or Wisconsin might suddenly become worthless just across the border. For travelers, hunters, and everyday carriers, that uncertainty turns routine trips into legal minefields.

Bruen Set the Stage, But States Keep Testing Limits

The Bruen decision was supposed to shift the conversation toward history and tradition, rejecting subjective “may-issue” gatekeeping. Yet Minnesota’s restrictions survived scrutiny by claiming their reciprocity rules fit within that framework. Pro-2A advocates see this as another example of courts allowing states to nibble around the edges of constitutional carry rights rather than embracing the full protection the Supreme Court outlined.
Law-abiding gun owners aren’t asking for special treatment. They’re asking for the same respect given to driver’s licenses, which states honor nationwide without demanding identical testing procedures. Concealed carry permits deserve similar treatment because the right to bear arms doesn’t stop at state lines.

What This Means for Interstate Travel

Imagine planning a family road trip through the upper Midwest only to discover your home-state permit offers zero protection in Minnesota. That friction discourages lawful carry and hands an advantage to criminals who ignore permitting laws anyway. The decision highlights why national reciprocity legislation remains essential—so citizens don’t have to study 50 different rulebooks before crossing borders.
Gun owners have every reason to stay engaged. Contact your representatives, support organizations pushing for true reciprocity, and keep pressing the point that the Second Amendment isn’t a state-by-state privilege. The fight for consistent recognition of carry rights continues, and rulings like this only sharpen the resolve.

References
June 29, 2026
Minnesota Senate Considers Trio of Bills That Could Reshape Hunting Access and Statewide Gun Law Uniformity
Minnesota’s outdoor enthusiasts and Second Amendment supporters are sounding the alarm as the state Senate weighs a dangerous trio of bills that threaten time-honored hunting traditions and uniform gun laws across the Land of 10,000 Lakes. At a moment when sportsmen should be focused on preseason prep and mentoring new hunters, lawmakers are instead pushing measures that could criminalize everyday gear and fragment protections for lawful firearm owners.

Consider SF 3655 first. This proposal would suddenly reclassify common semi-automatic hunting rifles and their standard-capacity magazines as illegal contraband. For generations, Minnesota hunters have relied on these reliable tools for deer, turkey, and predator control in the state’s vast public lands. Turning them into contraband overnight would amount to a de facto ban on many traditional practices, forcing law-abiding citizens to either surrender property they’ve owned legally for years or face serious legal consequences. Sportsmen’s groups across the state are rightly calling this an attack on rural heritage rather than any genuine public-safety measure.

Next comes SF 3549, which aims to repeal Minnesota’s longstanding firearms preemption statute. That law has kept gun regulations consistent statewide, preventing a confusing and uneven patchwork of city and county rules that would make travel and recreation needlessly complicated. Without it, a hunter could find himself legal in one county and a criminal in the next. This repeal would erode the very uniformity that keeps Second Amendment rights practical for everyone from Duluth to Rochester.

The third bill, SF 2320, would hand local governments broad power to restrict firearms and ammunition on public lands. Think about what that means for access to state forests, wildlife management areas, and trails that families have used for decades. Lawful carry and hunting could be banned or severely limited by the stroke of a city council pen, effectively shrinking the public spaces available for outdoor recreation and self-defense.

These proposals represent a sharp departure from Minnesota’s balanced approach to gun rights and conservation. Rather than working with hunters who serve as the backbone of wildlife management through license fees and habitat work, the bills appear designed to chip away at access and ownership under the guise of local control. Opposition is growing fast among groups that represent tens of thousands of sportsmen who value both their heritage and their constitutional protections.

If these measures advance, the ripple effects would reach far beyond the Capitol. New hunters might be discouraged, family traditions could fade, and the state’s reputation as a welcoming destination for outdoor sports would suffer. Now is the time for Second Amendment advocates to reach out to their senators, attend committee hearings, and remind lawmakers that protecting hunting access and uniform laws strengthens communities rather than endangering them. Minnesota’s outdoor legacy depends on it.

References
June 10, 2026
Minnesota Senate Passes SF 4067: Assault Weapons Ban and 17-Round Magazine Limit in Narrow 34-33 Vote Amid 2A Backlash
In a move that’s got gun owners across Minnesota—and the nation—firing up their keyboards and phone lines, the state Senate just rammed through SF 4067 on a nail-biting 34-33 party-line vote. This so-called “gun violence prevention omnibus bill” isn’t about safety; it’s a full-frontal assault on your Second Amendment rights, banning sales of popular semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 and capping detachable magazines at just 17 rounds. While it throws in some school safety and mental health funding as window dressing, make no mistake: this is incremental gun control on steroids.

Minnesota Senate chamber during the tense 34-33 vote on SF 4067, with lawmakers divided on the assault weapons ban (via fox9.com)

The Devil in the Details: What SF 4067 Really Does

Let’s break it down. SF 4067 defines “assault weapons” in the broadest, most vague terms possible—think any semi-automatic rifle with a pistol grip, folding stock, or even certain flash hiders. AR-15s? Gone from new sales. AK-pattern rifles? Same story. Shotguns and handguns with “evil features”? Banned. And magazines? You’re now limited to 17 rounds for rifles and shotguns, 12 for handguns. Existing guns and mags are grandfathered (for now), but good luck replacing parts or expanding your collection.

Proponents claim it’s about “common-sense” measures post-mass shootings, but here’s the rub: Minnesota’s violent crime rate isn’t driven by AR-15-toting grandmas at the range. Criminals don’t follow laws—they steal guns or use illegal ones. This bill punishes law-abiding citizens who use these firearms for self-defense, hunting, and sport. In fact, the AR-15 is America’s rifle for a reason: reliable, versatile, and proven in millions of defensive scenarios annually.

2A Warriors Push Back Hard

Gun rights groups like the NRA, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, and Second Amendment Foundation aren’t taking this lying down. “This is a direct attack on the constitutional rights of Minnesotans,” blasted Anthony Cornicello of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. “SF 4067 won’t stop criminals but will disarm the good guys.” Social media is exploding with #HandsOffMyAR and #KillSF4067, and petitions are circulating faster than brass at a steel challenge match.

Close-up of a black AR-15 rifle with standard magazine, symbolizing the firearms targeted by Minnesota’s SF 4067 assault weapons ban (via minnesotareformer.com)

History backs the backlash. Similar “assault weapon” bans in states like California and New York have done zilch to reduce crime rates—in fact, violent crime often spikes. The federal 1994 ban? Expired in 2004 with zero impact on public safety. Studies from the Cato Institute and others show these laws are feel-good politics that erode freedoms without saving lives.

House Showdown: The Fight Isn’t Over

The bill now heads to the Minnesota House, where Republicans and pro-2A Democrats could derail it. With the DFL holding a slim majority, every vote counts. Gov. Tim Walz, fresh off his “one Minnesota” rhetoric, has signaled he’d sign it faster than you can say “executive order.” But public outcry is mounting—town halls are packed, and recall efforts against turncoat senators are underway.

If it passes, expect lawsuits galore. Bruen (2022) made it crystal clear: gun laws must align with historical tradition. Magazine limits and “assault weapon” bans? No historical analog. Courts in Illinois and Maryland are already striking down similar nonsense.

Standard 30-round AR-15 magazine next to a restricted 17-round version, highlighting Minnesota SF 4067’s magazine capacity restriction (via kare11.com)

Your Move, Patriots: Fight for the Second

Minnesotans, this is your Alamo. Flood your House reps’ phones—find them at house.mn.gov. Join the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus at mngunowners.com and sign their petition. Nationally, support the NRA-ILA and tell Walz #NoNewBans.

The Second Amendment isn’t a suggestion—it’s the firewall against tyranny. SF 4067 is a step toward confiscation. Stand firm, stay armed, and let’s send this bill to the scrap heap where it belongs. Stay vigilant, stay free.

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References
May 11, 2026