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Agenda: Edina - Gun Safety Local Ordinance - Early Nov. 2025

Date: Friday, November 7, 2025 at 8:00 PMActual: Friday, November 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM

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Agenda: Edina - Gun Safety Local Ordinance - Early Nov. 2025

Published Friday, November 7, 2025

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[music] Edina City Council members want to take a stand on gun safety. They've directed staff to draft an ordinance that would regulate assault weapons, large capacity magazines, and ghost guns within the city. Under state law, cities can't enforce local gun regulations without approval from the state legislature. Even so, council members say they want to move forward to send a strong message to lawmakers that they support change. >> We're we're a council and a town filled with law-abiding citizens. >> Yes. >> And that's why it creates so much discomfort because we want to be doing the right thing upholding the law, but we're really in a situation here where the we think the law is wrong. You just got it wrong. and and we're going to we're going to make some racket about it and we're going to tell you we think it's wrong. We're going to do something in our town about it and if you want to slap our hands on it, go ahead. But we still think it's wrong and you better take this up when you convene the legislature whenever that is January, February, we'll be there to tell you we think you're wrong. >> We'll be there with a bunch of other cities saying you got it all wrong up here. A draft ordinance is expected to come before the council later this

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Local Gun Safety Ordinance Directive

The Edina City Council directed staff to draft a comprehensive gun safety ordinance targeting assault weapons, large capacity magazines, and ghost guns. This represents a proactive local government effort to address gun violence despite legal constraints. The ordinance is expected to come before the council for formal consideration in the near future.

State Preemption Law Challenge

Council members acknowledged that Minnesota state law prohibits cities from enforcing local gun regulations without state legislative approval. Despite this legal barrier, the council deliberately chose to proceed with the ordinance as an act of civil disobedience and advocacy. This represents a direct challenge to state authority on gun regulation.

Legislative Advocacy Strategy

The council framed the ordinance as a political statement and advocacy tool rather than immediately enforceable law. They plan to use the ordinance to pressure state legislators when the legislature convenes, joining with other cities to demand changes to state gun laws. This represents a coordinated municipal advocacy effort.

Moral and Ethical Justification

Council members expressed moral conflict between being law-abiding citizens and officials while simultaneously believing state gun laws are inadequate. They justified their civil disobedience by framing gun safety as a higher moral imperative that supersedes technical legal compliance. This reflects the ethical reasoning behind their controversial decision.

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Summary

The Edina City Council directed staff to draft a local gun safety ordinance that would regulate assault weapons, large capacity magazines, and ghost guns within city limits. Despite state law prohibiting cities from enforcing local gun regulations without legislative approval, council members voted to move forward as a symbolic gesture to pressure state lawmakers. The council acknowledged they are intentionally challenging state preemption laws and expressed willingness to face potential legal consequences to send a strong message advocating for gun safety reform at the state level.

People, Places & Organizations

Edina City Council · organizationEdina · locationMinnesota State Legislature · organizationOther Minnesota cities · organization