Walz appointed Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson just issued an order that contradicts what Minnesota laws allow. Citing her ability to oversee the court system, Hudson penned an order that stated, “No firearms or other weapons are allowed in the Minnesota Judicial Center, in the Supreme Court Courtroom and Conference Room in the State Capitol, or in the court-occupied areas in county government buildings or other facilities used for the official business of the supreme court, court of appeals, or state district courts.”
Here’s the problem…this order contradicts what state law says. MN Statute 609.66, Subd. 1g allows MN permit holders to “carry pistols according to the terms of a permit issued under section 624.714 and who so notify the sheriff or the commissioner of public safety.”
MN Statute 624.714 is the area of law that allows the legal carry of loaded firearms in public with a permit. In that section of law, there’s also a provision known as “state exclusivity.” State exclusivity means that the only gun laws enforceable in Minnesota are federal gun laws and what was passed into law by the Minnesota legislature. It specifically prohibits any “sheriff, police chief, governmental unit, government official, government employee, or other person or body acting under color of law or governmental authority” from limiting “the exercise of a permit to carry.”
State exclusivity was a recent topic in the news after the city of St Paul passed an ordinance banning AR-15s and magazines with capacities over 10 rounds. The ordinance is null and void because governmental units are prohibited from limiting the exercise of permit holders in the state. And so is a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court!
Chief Justice Hudson’s order is an update to the previous order governing security of the court systems in the state (A03-0604) that had a much more narrow restriction on where firearms were banned.
Chief Justice Hudson has a history of being on the wrong side of issues related to firearms and self defense. She joined the dissent of a monumental court ruling last summer in State vs Vagle where she disagreed with the majority’s opinion that Minnesotans have a right to possess a firearm without a serial number as long as it does not conflict with federal law. This Supreme Court decision led to Sherburne County dropping their atrocious felony charges against young patriot, Walker Anderson.
Hudson also joined the majority when the Supreme Court ruled against self defense in State vs Blevins – a case that requires Minnesotas to retreat from an attack if available, even if they have the ability to use a “reasonable threat of force” to resist the offense. Blevins was sent to jail as a victim, even though he never physically harmed his attackers.
