Concealed Carry Permit Applications ‘Nearly Double,’ Gun Sales Up in Minnesota

February 14, 2026
10:40 am

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Minnesota's concealed carry permit applications exploded in January 2026, nearly doubling from the previous year, while gun sales surged alongside them—signaling a seismic shift in the heartland's embrace of self-defense rights. According to CBS News, this isn't some fleeting anomaly; it's a barometer of growing unease amid rising crime rates, urban unrest, and a national reckoning post-2024 elections where pro-2A momentum gained serious traction. Think about it: Minnesotans, long stereotyped as polite and passive, are voting with their applications and wallets, rejecting the nanny-state narrative peddled by anti-gun elites in St. Paul and D.C. This mirrors trends in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Michigan, where permit issuances spiked 50-100% after similar catalysts—proving that when law-abiding folks feel the government won't protect them, they arm themselves. What's driving this? Peel back the layers: Violent crime in Minneapolis remains stubbornly high despite billions in reform spending, with carjackings and assaults up 20% year-over-year per state data. Add in border security fears spilling northward and a Supreme Court that's finally slapping down restrictive permitting schemes (hello, Bruen two-point-oh), and you've got a perfect storm for 2A awakening. Gun sales data from the NICS firewall backs it up—background checks jumped 40% in the same period, funneling cash to manufacturers like Sig Sauer and Glock, whose compact carry models are flying off shelves. For the 2A community, this is rocket fuel: It bolsters arguments against permitless carry bans, showcases organic demand outpacing regulations, and pressures holdout legislators ahead of 2026 midterms. The implications? A fortified front in the flyover states, where concealed carriers could swell Minnesota's ranks by tens of thousands, deterring criminals who prefer soft targets. Nationally, it's a template for advocacy—highlight these wins in viral campaigns to flip purple districts. If you're in the community, now's the time to train up new permit holders, stock local ranges, and amplify this story. Minnesota's not just carrying concealed; it's carrying the torch for the rest of us. Stay vigilant, stay armed.

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Minnesota’s concealed carry permit applications exploded in January 2026, nearly doubling from the previous year, while gun sales surged alongside them—signaling a seismic shift in the heartland’s embrace of self-defense rights. According to CBS News, this isn’t some fleeting anomaly; it’s a barometer of growing unease amid rising crime rates, urban unrest, and a national reckoning post-2024 elections where pro-2A momentum gained serious traction. Think about it: Minnesotans, long stereotyped as polite and passive, are voting with their applications and wallets, rejecting the nanny-state narrative peddled by anti-gun elites in St. Paul and D.C. This mirrors trends in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Michigan, where permit issuances spiked 50-100% after similar catalysts—proving that when law-abiding folks feel the government won’t protect them, they arm themselves.

What’s driving this? Peel back the layers: Violent crime in Minneapolis remains stubbornly high despite billions in reform spending, with carjackings and assaults up 20% year-over-year per state data. Add in border security fears spilling northward and a Supreme Court that’s finally slapping down restrictive permitting schemes (hello, Bruen two-point-oh), and you’ve got a perfect storm for 2A awakening. Gun sales data from the NICS firewall backs it up—background checks jumped 40% in the same period, funneling cash to manufacturers like Sig Sauer and Glock, whose compact carry models are flying off shelves. For the 2A community, this is rocket fuel: It bolsters arguments against permitless carry bans, showcases organic demand outpacing regulations, and pressures holdout legislators ahead of 2026 midterms.

The implications? A fortified front in the flyover states, where concealed carriers could swell Minnesota’s ranks by tens of thousands, deterring criminals who prefer soft targets. Nationally, it’s a template for advocacy—highlight these wins in viral campaigns to flip purple districts. If you’re in the community, now’s the time to train up new permit holders, stock local ranges, and amplify this story. Minnesota’s not just carrying concealed; it’s carrying the torch for the rest of us. Stay vigilant, stay armed.

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