Klobuchar Pushes Minnesota AR-15 Ban as Supreme Court Prepares to Rule on Gun Rights
Minnesota Governor-elect Amy Klobuchar is wasting no time pushing for new restrictions on law-abiding gun owners, even as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to decide whether bans on commonly owned semiautomatic rifles violate the Second Amendment.
Just one day after winning the November 3 election, Klobuchar told reporters that legislation targeting firearms and magazines would be a top priority for her incoming administration.
“The gun safety bill is going to get passed,” Klobuchar declared during her November 4 press conference.
The timing is particularly significant. On December 2, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, consolidated cases addressing whether the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect possession of AR-15s and similar semiautomatic rifles.
Rather than waiting for clarity from the Supreme Court, Klobuchar is pressing ahead with legislation that could place Minnesota on a collision course with the Court’s eventual decision.
In one of her first acts as governor-elect, Sen. @amyklobuchar affirmed that she will go after Minnesotans’ firearms under the guise of “safety.”
“The gun safety bill is going to get passed…it certainly should be one of our top priorities.” https://t.co/9fVkxn33ne
— NRA (@NRA) November 6, 2026
Minnesota Democrats Revive Failed Gun Ban
The legislation Klobuchar wants to resurrect closely follows Senate File 4067, which passed the Minnesota Senate by a narrow 34-33 vote in May but never reached a House floor vote.
The proposal would have prohibited licensed firearms dealers from selling firearms classified as “semiautomatic military-style assault weapons” and ammunition magazines holding more than 17 rounds. Existing owners would have been required to obtain state certification for covered firearms and magazines, renewing that certification every three years.
Violations could result in criminal penalties.
With Democrats now controlling the Minnesota governorship and both legislative chambers, the political roadblock that stopped the legislation in 2026 has been removed.
However, controlling the legislature does not give lawmakers unlimited authority over rights protected by the Constitution.
Supreme Court Showdown Looms Over AR-15 Bans
The timing of Klobuchar’s announcement is difficult to ignore.
The Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether the Second Amendment protects AR-15-platform rifles and similar semiautomatic firearms commonly possessed by Americans for lawful purposes.
In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Court recognized that the Second Amendment protects weapons in common lawful use. In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, the justices reaffirmed that governments must justify firearm restrictions through the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.
The upcoming Viramontes and Grant decisions could have major consequences for states attempting to outlaw commonly owned semiautomatic rifles.
Klobuchar has not explicitly stated that she would defy an adverse Supreme Court ruling. Nevertheless, her commitment to pursuing another rifle ban before the Court decides the issue places Minnesota’s legislative agenda directly against a constitutional question awaiting resolution.
NRA Warns Klobuchar of Legal Fight
The National Rifle Association has already promised to challenge Klobuchar’s gun-control agenda. John Commerford, Executive Director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) reacted to Klobuchar’s promise with the following statement.
“Governor-elect Klobuchar’s promise to ram through gun control in Minnesota is a direct assault on the constitutional rights of law-abiding Minnesotans. The NRA and law-abiding gun owners will fight this every step of the way in St. Paul, and if Klobuchar gets her way, we will see her in court. We will not back down, and we will not allow the Second Amendment to be dismantled in the North Star State. Minnesota gun owners can count on us to stand shoulder to shoulder with them to defend their freedom.”
For gun owners, the stakes go well beyond one governor or one state. A Supreme Court ruling recognizing constitutional protection for commonly owned semiautomatic rifles could undermine similar bans across the country.
The question for Minnesota Democrats is whether their legislative ambitions will survive that constitutional scrutiny.
Klobuchar may have won an election and gained legislative allies, but the authority of state government remains limited by the Constitution. The Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision could determine just how far Minnesota can go in restricting the firearms its citizens have a right to keep and bear.
About Duncan Johnson:
Duncan Johnson is a lifelong firearms enthusiast and unwavering defender of the Second Amendment—where “shall not be infringed” means exactly what it says. A graduate of George Mason University, he enjoys competing in local USPSA and multi-gun competitions whenever he’s not covering the latest in gun rights and firearm policy. Duncan is a regular contributor and editor-in-chief for AmmoLand News and is responsible for AmmoLand’s daily gun-rights reporting and industry coverage.