The ‘Single-Subject’ Ruling That Saved Your Binary Trigger
BY MN CRIME STAFF
Last year’s legislative session produced some of the most significant changes to Minnesota gun laws in a generation.
Driven by the tragic 2024 Burnsville shooting—where three first responders were killed with guns obtained through straw purchases, equipped with high-rate-of-fire devices—these laws have now been in effect for nearly one full year.
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Binary Triggers and Straw Purchases: Breaking Down Minnesota’s 2025 Gun Law Shift
The Felony Upgrade for "Straw Buying"
Previously, buying a gun for someone who isn't allowed to have one (a "straw purchase") was often just a gross misdemeanor.
New Penalty: Under MN Statute 624.713, this is now a felony.
The “Reasonably Should Have Known” Standard: This is a critical shift. Prosecutors no longer have to prove you knew the person was a felon. They only have to prove that a “reasonable person” would have known. This makes it much easier to charge girlfriends, boyfriends or friends who claim they “had no idea” about the recipient’s criminal past.
The Affirmative Defense: The law added a protection for victims of domestic violence. If a person was coerced or threatened into making the purchase for an abuser, they can use an “affirmative defense” to avoid conviction.
The Binary Trigger Ban
Starting from Jan 1, 2025, binary triggers—devices that fire a round on both the pull and the release of a trigger—were illegal to possess in Minnesota.
The Penalty: Possession was a felony that carried up to 20 years in prison.
The “No Compensation” Rule: Unlike some state buybacks, Minnesota provided no compensation to owners who surrendered these devices, requiring they be destroyed or moved out-of-state.
The Legal Challenge: While the ban on binary triggers was set to change the lives of gun owners on Jan. 1, 2025, the legal landscape shifted dramatically in late summer. In the case of Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus v. Walz, a Ramsey County District Court judge ruled that the ban was unconstitutional—not because of the Second Amendment, but because of how the law was passed.
The Minnesota Constitution contains a "single-subject" clause, which mandates that every law must focus on one clear topic to prevent "logrolling" (the practice of hiding controversial policies inside massive, unrelated bills). The judge agreed with the plaintiffs that tucking a firearm ban into a 1,400-page tax and spending omnibus bill was a clear violation of this rule.
Current Status: As of late 2025, the binary trigger ban is not enforceable.
The District County judge issued a permanent injunction blocking the state from enforcing the law. While the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office has appealed the ruling to the Minnesota Supreme Court, the ban remains "dead" for the time being. This ruling has sent shockwaves through the State Capitol, as it threatens the legality of other policies tucked into that same "mega-bill" and puts the legislature on notice regarding their use of omnibus packages.
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