Minnesota Judge Strikes Down Unconstitutional Binary Trigger Ban, Slams Legislature’s Tactics

St. Paul, MN –  A Ramsey County judge has overturned Minnesota’s ban on binary triggers, ruling that lawmakers violated the state constitution when they buried the restriction inside a 1,400-page tax bill last year.

Binary triggers allow a firearm to fire once when the trigger is pulled and again when it’s released. While anti-gun lawmakers rushed to outlaw them after the 2024 Burnsville tragedy, Judge Leonardo Castro said the way the ban was passed broke Minnesota’s constitutional rules.

Judge’s Rebuke of “Kitchen Sink” Lawmaking

In his ruling, Castro didn’t mince words about the massive omnibus bill that crammed together taxes, housing, rideshare regulations, veterinary licensing, and gun control.

“The 2024 Omnibus Bill violates the Single Subject and Title Clause, because, at best, it contains many non-germane parts, and at worst, has no identifiable common theme,” Castro wrote. He added: “If there has ever been a bill without common theme and where ‘all bounds of reason and restraint seem to have been abandoned,’ this is it; and if there has ever been time for the ‘draconian result of invalidating the entire law,’ that time is now.”

Castro ultimately struck down only the binary trigger ban, citing Minnesota Supreme Court precedent that favors cutting out unconstitutional pieces instead of tossing entire laws. But he warned that other provisions of the bill could face similar challenges.

Gun Rights Victory

The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, which filed the lawsuit, celebrated the decision as a major win for constitutional law and transparency.

“Today, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus ended Minnesota’s binary trigger ban,” said Chair Bryan Strawser. “The Walz administration and anti-gun legislators tried to sneak an unconstitutional restriction into a massive omnibus bill. The court said no. Minnesota’s Constitution — not backroom deals — controls how laws are made in this state.”

Republican lawmakers echoed that sentiment. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) said: “This decision is a reminder that the legislative process exists to put Minnesotans first, not to sidestep them. The people’s business must be done in the light of day, not buried in last-minute sham hearings for mega-bills.”

State Officials Plan to Fight Back

Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, both named as defendants, said they will appeal. A spokesperson for Ellison argued the ruling undermines public safety: “The State is exploring its options to protect Minnesotans from binary trigger devices, which can dramatically increase the rate of fire and lethality of many firearms.”

Democrats tied the ban to the Burnsville ambush where three first responders were killed, and Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) called the ruling “a disappointment” that “makes Minnesota communities less safe.”

What Comes Next

For now, binary triggers remain legal in Minnesota, reversing the January 2025 ban that carried felony penalties and no grandfathering for existing owners. But with the state appealing, the fight isn’t over.

The bigger question may be whether Castro’s sharp rebuke of the Legislature’s “everything but the kitchen sink” approach opens the door to more lawsuits challenging other provisions crammed into the 2024 omnibus bill.

As Castro himself noted, “severance of the challenged portion alone will not bring the 2024 Omnibus Bill into constitutional compliance — not even close.”

We are in dangerous times! We are NOT meeting our funding goals! Will you help out?

Minnesota Binary Trigger Ban To Take Effect, Thanks ‘Tampon Tim’ ~ VIDEO

Franklin Armory BFS Trigger or Binary Firing System (BFS III) – Review & VIDEO

Read MoreAmmoLand Shooting Sports News