MN Supreme Court to Hear Major Gun Rights Case on July 1
Case: State v. Hatch
Filed by: Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus (MNGOC) in support of the appellant
Date of Oral Arguments: July 1, 2025
🧑⚖️ Case Background
Matthew Hatch was convicted of 5th-degree drug possession—a nonviolent felony—in 2021. Under Minnesota law, that conviction bars him from owning or possessing firearms.
Hatch is challenging the constitutionality of this restriction under both the Second Amendment and Article I, Section 13 of the Minnesota Constitution. The case cites the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), which ruled that gun laws must be deeply rooted in American tradition to be valid.
⚖️ Legal Questions at Stake
- Can the state bar nonviolent offenders from firearm ownership under the U.S. and MN Constitutions?
- Does Minnesota’s current prohibition violate Second Amendment protections post-Bruen?
- What qualifies as a “historical tradition” of gun regulation?
🔧 Potential Impact
If the court rules in Hatch’s favor, Minnesota may be forced to revise its laws on who can be legally barred from owning firearms—especially those with nonviolent convictions.
This case could influence future challenges to laws affecting 18–20-year-olds, medical cannabis users, and others similarly restricted.
📣 Statement from Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus
“It’s time Minnesota law reflects the reality that nonviolent offenders—especially those who have served their time—shouldn’t lose their fundamental rights forever.”
– Bryan Strawser, MNGOC Chair
Stay tuned: A decision from the Minnesota Supreme Court is expected later this summer or early fall.
Source: Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, Court Filings, June 2025