Edina City Council Passes Contingent Gun Safety Ordinance
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and ghost guns, is designed to take effect only if current state laws precluding municipal gun control are amended or repealed.
Our children are not at war. They're trying to get an education. This is the best that we can do today. And I think it's also the least that we can do.
Navigating State Preemption
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.
If I was a US senator, if I was a member of the House of Representatives, if I was at the state, this would be so logical for me and I would embrace it.
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Full analysis
- Edina passes symbolic gun control ordinance contingent on future state law changes.
- City council faces pressure from families affected by the Annunciation Church shooting to enact local gun safety policy.
- Tension between municipal legislative desire and state-level preemption laws regarding firearm regulation.
Our children are not at war. They're trying to get an education. This is the best that we can do today. And I think it's also the least that we can do.
If I was a US senator, if I was a member of the House of Representatives, if I was at the state, this would be so logical for me and I would embrace it.
Source document
Welcome to Agenda Edina, a program summarizing the actions taken at city hall that affect you most. I'm your host, Dorothia Marty. The Adina City Council has approved a firearm safety and safe storage ordinance positioning the city to act if state law changes in the future. Under current Minnesota law, cities are prohibited by the state from enforcing local gun regulations. Because of that, Edina's ordinance would not take effect unless the state lifts what's known as preeemption. Council members said the action is intended to clearly state the city's position on gun safety and ensure Edina is prepared if local enforcement becomes legal. The families of this community include people who were hurt in the enunciation shooting and they've asked that we can do as much as we can to stop this kind of gun violence. We're not claiming that this is a cure all. It's one step. If I was a US senator, if I was a member of the House of Representatives, if I was at the state, this would be so logical for me and I would embrace it and I would do it. And I'm trying to think about what I can do at the local level. Our children are not at war. They're trying to get an education. This is the best that we can do today. And I think it's also the least that we can do. I wish we could do more. Our children and our community deserve for us to do more. >> The ordinance would regulate certain firearms and components, including assault weapons, large capacity magazines, binary triggers, and so-called ghost guns. It also establishes requirements aimed at preventing negligent firearm storage. Before approving the ordinance, the council held a special public meeting in early January to hear from residents. The discussion followed the August mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis and reflected broader conversations happening across Minnesota about gun violence prevention.
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Other Topics from This Document
Firearm safety and safe storage ordinance
Public policy response to gun violence
Regulation of assault weapons, large capacity magazines, and ghost guns
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