Minnesota Firearm News

Just days after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Wolford v. Lopez, Hawaii lawmakers moved to blunt a potential loss by introducing new legislation that would force businesses to post government-mandated signage declaring whether firearms are allowed.

With days remaining before Virginia’s legislative crossover deadline, Democrats in the House of Delegates advanced a sweeping package of gun control bills that would ban commonly owned firearms, impose magazine limits, and expand civil liability against the firearms industry. Chief among them, HB 217 would outlaw a wide range of semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns while criminalizing possession by adults under 21—despite Supreme Court precedent protecting arms in com

A unanimous Ninth Circuit panel has upheld California’s switchblade restrictions as applied to concealed carry, ruling in Knife Rights v. Bonta that historical precedent supports the state’s law despite the Supreme Court’s Bruen framework. By narrowly focusing on concealed carry and sidestepping broader prohibitions, the court preserved one of the nation’s most restrictive knife laws...

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.