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Freeborn County residents split over allowing rifles after Minnesota law change
Summary
At a Feb. 12 public input session, Freeborn County residents and officials expressed divided views on whether to retain a shotgun-only zone or permit rifles under a recent Minnesota law; officials said no decision would be made tonight and clarified that the DNR enforces standard rifle/shotgun zones while local deputies would enforce any county caveats.
Freeborn County held a public input session on Feb. 12, 2026, to gather residents’ views after a change in Minnesota law that gives counties discretion to keep shotgun-only zones or allow rifles in designated areas. The board said it would not make a decision at the meeting and indicated any ordinance should be finalized before the DNR’s May booklet deadline.
The law change effectively makes the county a rifle zone by default unless the county passes a shotgun-only ordinance. Sheriff Shea and other officials explained that if the county adopts a straightforward shotgun-or-rifle designation the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources would enforce it; but if the county inserts caveats (for example, permitting only straight‑wall cartridges) enforcement would fall to county deputies. "The DNR will enforce it if it's a rifle zone, and they'll…
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