Minnesota Firearm News

Trump’s nominee to lead the ATF, Robert Cekada, faced unusually smooth sailing during his Senate confirmation hearing, drawing praise from both Republicans and Democrats and signaling a likely confirmation. The current deputy director emphasized a focus on violent crime rather than regulatory crackdowns, while stopping short of promising immediate rollbacks of controversial Biden-era rules.

January 2026 is already shaping up to be the year of the suppressor, as NFA submissions surged more than 120 percent following the elimination of the federal tax on suppressors and short-barreled firearms. While overall firearm sales remained steady at nearly 1.2 million units, background checks tied specifically to NFA items exploded—confirming what many saw at SHOT Show: when unnecessary taxes and barriers are removed, Americans waste no time exercising their rights.

DPMS Panther Arms made a splash at SHOT Show with the return of its iconic Kitty Kat AR-15 pistol and SBR, now produced under Palmetto State Armory. Once a staple among Minnesota law enforcement, the revived Kitty Kat blends retro styling with modern upgrades, including multi-caliber options, updated magazine patterns using Glock and CZ Scorpion magazines, and even wood furniture for a nostalgic aesthetic.

Following a fatal Border Patrol shooting involving an anti-ICE protester in Minnesota, rhetoric from members of the Trump Administration sparked concern among Second Amendment advocates. Officials emphasized that the individual was carrying a “fully loaded” firearm with extra magazines—language critics argue misrepresents lawful carry and unfairly stigmatizes gun owners.

A legendary rifle long absent from the U.S. civilian market is finally making a comeback. At SHOT Show, SNT Defense announced plans to reintroduce the iconic Daewoo K2 rifle—now renamed the K2S—giving American shooters and collectors a rare opportunity to own a platform that has been largely unobtainable for decades. Made famous during the 1992 Los Angeles riots and later barred from importation under the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, original K2 rifles became scarce and prohibit

Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman Democrat, New Jersey. Angelina Katsanis /AP A group of Democrats in Congress has once again introduced legislation aimed at shutting down online ammunition sales nationwide—an effort that would dramatically expand gun control far beyond the handful of states that currently regulate ammo purchases. The proposal, titled the Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act,  was reintroduced by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.). Filed as H.R. 7166, the bill wo