DOJ Sues Minnesota Over Firearm Waiting Period

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President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota over its firearm purchase waiting period, alleging it violates the Second Amendment. The lawsuit was announced on Thursday, following a previous notice sent to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) in September 2026.

In a letter addressed to Governor Walz, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon highlighted that Minnesota imposes a 30-day waiting period for both Transferee Reports and Permits to Purchase handguns and certain rifles. Dhillon noted that residents may wait up to 30 days for approval, with some cases requiring nearly 60 days.

The DOJ’s lawsuit asserts that the Supreme Court has recognized the need for self-defense in the home as most acute, and that waiting periods of up to 60 days are unconstitutional. Dhillon emphasized that law-abiding citizens should not need government permission to purchase firearms, and that the current policy is intolerable under the Constitution.

Minnesota’s law requires applicants to wait for approval before obtaining a firearm, which the DOJ argues infringes on the right to bear arms. The lawsuit seeks to challenge the state’s policy, which has been a point of contention among gun rights advocates and legal experts.

The case underscores the ongoing debate over gun control and the interpretation of the Second Amendment. While supporters of the waiting period argue it helps prevent gun violence, critics claim it unnecessarily delays access to firearms for law-abiding citizens.

This lawsuit is part of a broader trend of legal challenges to state-level gun control measures, reflecting the deep divide over Second Amendment rights in the United States.

Source: Breitbart

Written by

Connor Davis