Minnesota gun owners and 2A advocates are staring down the barrel of yet another assault on their rights today, February 18th, as the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee holds a hearing on HF 3380. Tucked into this bill via a last-minute amendment is a sweeping semi-automatic ban that would criminalize some of the most popular firearms in America—from AR-15s to common hunting rifles with pistol grips or detachable magazines. Proponents are dressing it up as public safety, but let’s call it what it is: a stealthy end-run around the legislature’s more moderate voices, slipping in under the radar while the session heats up. This isn’t just a bill; it’s a blueprint for confiscation-lite, mirroring failed schemes in states like California and New York that have done zilch to reduce crime but plenty to burden law-abiding citizens.
The timing reeks of opportunism. With the DFL holding the trifecta in St. Paul, they’ve already pushed through red-flag laws and universal background checks, but semi-auto bans have historically crashed and burned due to rural pushback and the state’s strong hunting culture. HF 3380’s amendment cleverly attaches to a finance and policy bill, potentially dodging standalone scrutiny and forcing a vote before opponents can mobilize. For context, Minnesota’s concealed carry permits have exploded post-Bruen, with over 400,000 active CHP holders proving armed self-defense is a cherished right here—not a privilege. Implications? If this passes committee, it sets the stage for floor fights, legal challenges under Heller and Bruen, and a rallying cry for 2A groups like GFAC and the NRA to flood the capitol. Expect packed hearing rooms, viral testimony from vets and hunters, and a test of whether Tim Walz’s administration will veto or greenlight the next step toward a Minnesota Nice gun registry.
This is D-Day for semi-autos in the North Star State—contact your reps NOW via the Minnesota Legislature website, show up if you can, and amplify this on socials with #HandsOffMyGunsMN. The 2A community has beaten back worse; let’s make sure HF 3380 joins the scrap heap of bad ideas. Stay vigilant, patriots—your Second Amendment hangs in the balance.
