St. Paul gun ordinance draws support at hearing; vote next week as Gun Owners Caucus threatens suit
At a Nov. 5 St. Paul City Council hearing, 10 of 14 speakers backed a proposed firearms ordinance that would only take effect if state firearm preemption is repealed, amended or judicially invalidated, and the council is scheduled to vote on it next Wednesday. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus has threatened to sue if the city moves forward—arguing the ordinance would violate state preemption even if not enforced—while the council also received more than 700 “vote no” emails and gun-safety advocates report surging membership since an Aug. 27 church shooting.
Legal
Public Safety
Local Government
📌 Key Facts
- St. Paul City Council held a public hearing on Nov. 5; 10 of 14 speakers who testified supported the proposed firearms ordinance.
- Council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance next Wednesday (Nov. 12, 2025).
- The proposed ordinance contains a contingency clause: it would take effect only if state firearm preemption is repealed, amended, or judicially invalidated.
- The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus has threatened to sue if St. Paul moves forward with the ordinance; the caucus tied its litigation threat to the city’s planned introduction of the ordinance on Oct. 22, and general counsel Rob Doar argued the city cannot pass an ordinance that violates state preemption even if it is not enforced.
- City Council received more than 700 'vote no' emails sent via a caucus template opposing the ordinance.
- Advocacy groups supporting stricter gun rules are mobilizing: the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action said it has added more than 5,000 members since the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church shooting.
📚 Contextual Background
- At that news conference, Minnesota doctors called for a statewide ban on assault-style weapons, a statewide ban on high-capacity magazines, a statewide requirement that firearms be stored locked and unloaded and separate from ammunition, and the removal of the current prohibition on local municipalities enacting firearm regulations stricter than the state.
📰 Sources (3)
St. Paul gun ordinance: From ‘100% against’ to strong support, City Council hears from residents
New information:
- A City Council public hearing was held Nov. 5; 10 of 14 speakers supported the ordinance.
- The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus reiterated it will sue if the ordinance is enacted; general counsel Rob Doar argued the city cannot pass an ordinance that violates state preemption even if not enforced.
- City Council received more than 700 'vote no' emails sent via a caucus template.
- The Council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance next Wednesday.
- Ordinance text includes a contingency clause: it would take effect only if state firearm preemption is repealed, amended, or judicially invalidated.
- Advocacy context: Moms Demand Action representative said the Minnesota chapter has added more than 5,000 members since the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church shooting.
Gun owners group says it’ll sue if St. Paul moves forward with firearms ordinance
New information:
- A gun owners group says it will sue if St. Paul moves forward with its proposed firearms ordinance.
- The litigation threat is directly tied to the city’s planned introduction of the ordinance on Oct. 22.