The Edina City Council passed a new firearm safety and safe storage ordinance during a special public meeting in early January. The measure, which establishes local regulations regarding assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, and ghost guns, is designed to take effect only if current state laws precluding municipal gun control are amended or repealed.

The legislative action follows mounting pressure on local officials to address community concerns regarding gun violence, particularly following a shooting incident at the Annunciation Church and School. While city leaders expressed a strong desire to implement more immediate protections, they acknowledged that existing state preemption laws strictly limit the ability of municipalities to enact independent firearm restrictions.

In Minnesota, state law preemption prohibits local governments from enacting ordinances that regulate the ownership, possession, or transportation of firearms, effectively consolidating authority at the state level.

During the proceedings, council members discussed the limitations of their legislative authority, noting that while the ordinance serves as a statement of intent, its practical enforcement remains tied to future actions by state lawmakers. The council signaled that by passing the measure, they intended to emphasize the necessity of broader policy changes at the state and federal levels.