Minneapolis committee adopts broad firearms ordinance, lowers high-capacity threshold to 10 rounds

A Minneapolis Committee of the Whole on May 5 adopted a sweeping rewrite of the cityfirearms code, approving immediate changes and a set of contingent provisions that the city says it will trigger if state law permits.

The ordinance, described by city attorneys as a full replacement of Chapter 393, passed as amended by a recorded roll call (13-0). Authors listed on the ordinance included Chair Aurin Chowdhury, Council Member Palmisano, Council Member Whiting and Council Member Chavez. Key non-contingent sections (definitions, violations and restrictions on non-firearm weapons and facsimiles) would take effect 30 days after passage and publication; other provisions are contingent on changes in state statute and will go into effect only after certification by the City Attorney and a 90-day waiting period.

City Attorneyoffice lead Amy Shut told the committee the ordinance aligns many definitions with state law where possible but creates local definitions in areas state law does not address. The contingent portions are written so they can automatically take effect if and when the Legislature amends or repeals preemption statutes that currently limit local regulation.

The contingent sections include explicit prohibitions on semi-automatic assault weapons, a ban on so-called ghost guns (unenforceable, unserialized 3D-printed firearms) and prohibitions on binary triggers. Council Member Whiting moved, and the council adopted as part of the amendment package, a lower definition of "large-capacity magazine" from 20 rounds to 10 rounds to align with what advocates and some jurisdictions call a more common standard.

Chair Aurin Chowdhury opened the hearing by framing the ordinance against a backdrop of recent mass shootings and direct appeals from families: "It is a true public health epidemic," she said as survivors and relatives gave emotional testimony during the public hearing. Community members who survived or were directly affected by the Aug. 27 Annunciation school shooting urged passage, saying local action complements statewide proposals such as Senate File 4067.

The ordinance also includes restrictions on carrying firearms in defined "sensitive places" (city-owned, leased or controlled buildings and properties regularly open to the public for government, cultural or civic purposes), and a safe-storage requirement that staff said would be considered with specific technical amendments. Amy Shut said the ordinance package deliberately separates sections that can operate immediately from contingent sections so the city can act where it already has authority while remaining ready to implement additional prohibitions if the legal environment changes.

After discussion by multiple council members and a formal voice and roll-call process, the measure carried on May 5 by a vote of 13 in favor and none opposed. The council and staff discussed next steps for publication and the certification process for contingent sections; city attorneys said contingent sections would be certified to the council and would become effective 90 days after certification.

The ordinance combined local policy and a strategic push to signal to the state that Minneapolis expects broader reforms; presenters repeatedly urged the Legislature to give cities more authority. The council scheduled no further local hearings before final publication of the adopted text.

The ordinance text and associated effective-date table are posted on the city's legislative information website for public review.