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SF 4290

Possession of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines banishment

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Liz Boldon and 4 co-sponsors

Minnesota bill bans semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, requiring surrender, removal, or registration of existing firearms to reduce mass shooting casualties.

Authors added Champion; Carlson; Boldon
#firearmsandweapons #publicsafetyandpublicsafetydepartment
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Bill Summary · SF 4290

Legislative bill overview

SF 4290 proposes to ban the possession, sale, and transfer of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines in Minnesota. The bill would prohibit future acquisitions and require owners of such weapons acquired before the effective date to comply through specified methods (surrender, removal from state, or registration).

Why is this important

This represents a significant attempt to regulate firearm access at the state level, directly addressing public safety concerns around mass shootings while creating enforcement and constitutional questions. The outcome could establish precedent for other states and affects hundreds of thousands of Minnesota residents who currently own these weapons legally.

Potential points of contention

  • Constitutional challenges: Second Amendment advocates will likely argue the ban violates individual gun rights; the bill's survival depends on how courts interpret "well-regulated militia" language and existing precedents like DC v. Heller
  • Definition ambiguity: "Military-style assault weapons" lacks universally agreed definition—critics argue it captures common civilian firearms while proponents say it targets only high-lethality weapons, creating implementation disputes
  • Enforcement and compliance burden: Retroactive application to existing owners raises practical questions about registration feasibility, verification, and whether the state has resources to enforce compliance across diverse rural and urban areas

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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