Minnesota Firearm News

The final month of 2025 closed with Americans continuing to purchase firearms at historically strong levels. While total FBI background checks declined year-over-year, adjusted data show nearly 1.6 million estimated retail gun sales in December alone—once again clearing the seven-figure mark. For all of 2025, lawful firearm purchases exceeded 14.6 million, placing the year among the strongest for gun ownership outside of the pandemic surge.

California is rolling out sweeping new gun control regulations set to take effect January 1, 2026, dramatically expanding state oversight of firearm parts, accessories, and digital design files. Framed as “consumer protection,” the new laws impose strict identity verification requirements, broaden criminal and civil liability for firearm-related products, and escalate penalties tied to so-called “ghost guns.” Critics warn the intentionally complex framework casts a wide net o

Senator Richard Blumenthal has introduced new legislation aimed at closing the so-called “Charleston Loophole,” a move that could dramatically alter the federal background check process for gun owners. While framed as a public safety measure, the proposal would eliminate the current three-day transfer rule under NICS, potentially leaving lawful purchasers stuck in indefinite limbo. Critics argue the bill punishes law-abiding citizens for government failures, setting the stage

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence in the United States has fallen back to pre-pandemic levels. New data show that shootings declined sharply in 2025, with overall incidents dropping 14 percent and mass shootings falling to a nearly two-decade low. Forty-one states saw reductions in gun deaths, and non-fatal shooting injuries reached their lowest level in more than a decade. These trends challenge long-standing narratives that expanded gun ownership.

The reduction of the National Firearms Act tax to $0 on suppressors and short-barreled rifles triggered an unprecedented surge in demand, overwhelming the ATF’s eForms system within hours of the change taking effect. With roughly 150,000 submissions filed in a single day, the flood of applications exposed long-standing flaws in the NFA framework and underscored what the firearms industry has argued for years: when unnecessary barriers are removed.

Developed during the Cold War to meet the growing need for a squad automatic weapon, the HK21 represents Heckler & Koch’s innovative approach to belt-fed firepower. Derived from the iconic G3 rifle, the HK21 combined roller-delayed blowback operation with a high rate of fire to deliver effective suppressive capability for militaries around the world. While never widely adopted by major Western powers, its reliability, adaptability, and combat use have secured its place as a n