Edina unveils draft ban on assault‑style weapons, >20‑round mags and ghost guns; delays action, will hold town hall
Edina unveiled a draft ordinance, modeled on St. Paul’s, that would ban possession, manufacture and transfer of “assault weapons,” magazines holding more than 20 rounds, ghost guns and binary triggers and would impose a firearms storage mandate, but states it would take effect only when the council passes a resolution affirming it is not preempted by state law. Council leaders put a vote on hold and will hold a public hearing/town hall after the city manager said he could not support the currently unenforceable draft and the city attorney said it cannot be enforced until state law changes, while the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus has threatened legal action if the ban is enacted.
📌 Key Facts
- Edina publicly unveiled a draft ordinance that would ban possession, manufacture and transfer of “assault weapons,” magazines holding more than 20 rounds, ghost guns and binary triggers, and would impose a firearms storage mandate.
- The draft ordinance is written to take effect only when the council passes a resolution affirming it is not preempted by state statute (a contingent/conditional activation).
- Mayor James Hovland put a vote on the ordinance on hold and said there will be no ordinance until it can be enforced, delaying action pending a public hearing/town hall.
- City Manager Scott Neal drafted the ordinance to mirror St. Paul’s proposal but said he could not endorse it because, under current state law, it would be unenforceable.
- City Attorney David Kendall said the city cannot set an effective date or direct police to enforce such an ordinance until state law changes and reiterated the constraints of state preemption, noting St. Paul’s contingent approach.
- The Edina City Council will explore alternative ordinances and convene a town hall to gather public input on firearm issues.
- Background context: several Minnesota cities moved on local gun measures after the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church shooting, no special legislative session to change state preemption has been called, and the Gun Owners Caucus has warned a lawsuit would follow enactment.
📰 Sources (3)
Edina unveils proposed city ordinance that would ban many firearms and certain gun magazines
New information:
- Edina publicly unveiled a draft ordinance banning possession, manufacture and transfer of 'assault weapons,' >20‑round magazines, ghost guns and binary triggers, plus a firearms storage mandate.
- The draft says it would take effect only when the council passes a resolution affirming it is not preempted by state statute.
- The city manager said he could not support the ordinance due to state preemption and its 'unenforceable nature.'
- The council will explore alternative ordinances and convene a town hall on firearm issues.
- City attorney reiterated state preemption constraints and noted St. Paul’s contingent approach; Gun Owners Caucus has warned Edina a lawsuit would follow enactment.
Edina gun control ordinance vote put on hold after council discussion
New information:
- Edina City Council did not vote on the gun-ban ordinance Tuesday; Mayor James Hovland put it on hold pending a public hearing.
- Hovland said there will be no ordinance until it can be enforced, citing Minnesota’s state preemption of local gun bans.
- City Manager Scott Neal drafted an ordinance mirroring St. Paul’s but said he cannot endorse it because it is currently unenforceable.
- City Attorney David Kendall said the city cannot set an effective date or direct police to enforce such an ordinance until state law changes.
- Context reiterated: cities moved after the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church shooting; a special session to change state law has not been called.