Minnesota Capitol adds weapons screening, still allows permitted handguns

Minnesota is installing airport‑style security screening at the State Capitol in St. Paul for the 2026 session, a first for the building, but the new checkpoints will not change state law that allows permitted handgun carriers to bring firearms inside. Under the system, all visitors will pass through screening lanes with magnetometers and bag checks; knives and most other weapons will be barred, and even Capitol staff will be screened if they use public entrances, while legislators retain additional access options. State Patrol/Capitol Security officials say the move responds to a sharp rise in threats against public officials and aims to keep the building open while reducing the risk of weapons slipping in unnoticed. Critics on social media are already questioning why guns with permits remain legal as smaller weapons are banned, while others worry about bottlenecks and whether there will be enough staff to run the lines during big hearings and rallies. The change will directly affect Twin Cities residents who come to the Capitol to testify, protest, lobby or tour, and will set the baseline for any future debates over tighter, D.C.‑style security.