Edina Council Defies State Law on Gun Safety Ordinance
The Edina City Council voted Thursday to direct staff to draft a local gun safety ordinance regulating assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, deliberately challenging a Minnesota state law that prohibits cities from enforcing such regulations without legislative approval.
Council members acknowledged they are intentionally violating state preemption law—the legal rule preventing cities from creating their own gun regulations. Despite this barrier, they voted to move forward, framing the ordinance as both a moral imperative and a political statement aimed at pressuring state lawmakers.
The proposed ordinance would regulate assault weapons, large capacity magazines, and ghost guns (untraceable firearms made from kits) within Edina's city limits. One council member articulated the tension driving the decision: "We want to be doing the right thing upholding the law, but we're really in a situation here where we think the law is wrong."
Council members expressed defiance about potential legal consequences. "We're going to make some racket about it and we're going to tell you we think it's wrong," one member said. "We're going to do something in our town about it and if you want to slap our hands on it, go ahead." Another pledged: "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."
The council framed the ordinance as part of a coordinated municipal advocacy strategy. Members indicated they plan to join other Minnesota cities in presenting a unified position to state legislators when the legislature convenes, using the local ordinance as leverage to demand statewide gun safety reform. "We'll be there with a bunch of other cities saying you got it all wrong up here," one member stated.
Staff will now draft the ordinance for formal council consideration at a future meeting. The council characterized itself as representing "a town filled with law-abiding citizens" while simultaneously choosing to challenge what they view as inadequate state gun laws. The move sets up a direct confrontation between local and state authority over gun regulation in Minnesota.
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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.
Source document
[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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Other Topics from This Document
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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