new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Title. new text end

new text begin Sections 624.7111 to 624.7118 shall be known as the "Second
Amendment Preservation Act."
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Declaration of policy. new text end

new text begin The legislature finds and declares that:
new text end

new text begin (1) the legislature of the state of Minnesota is firmly resolved to support and defend the
Constitution of the United States against every aggression, whether foreign or domestic,
and is duty bound to oppose every infraction of those principles that constitute the basis of
the Union of the States because only a faithful observance of those principles can secure
the union's existence and the public happiness;
new text end

new text begin (2) acting through the Constitution of the United States, the people of the several states
created the federal government to be their agent in the exercise of a few defined powers,
while reserving for the state governments the power to legislate on matters concerning the
lives, liberties, and properties of citizens in the ordinary course of affairs;
new text end

new text begin (3) the limitation of the federal government's power is affirmed under Amendment X
of the Constitution of the United States, which defines the total scope of federal power as
being that which has been delegated by the people of the several states to the federal
government, and all power not delegated to the federal government in the Constitution of
the United States is reserved to the states respectively or to the people themselves;
new text end

new text begin (4) if the federal government assumes powers that the people did not grant it in the
Constitution of the United States, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force;
new text end

new text begin (5) the several states of the United States respect the proper role of the federal government
but reject the proposition that such respect requires unlimited submission. If the government,
created by a compact among the states, was the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the
powers granted to it by the states through the Constitution of the United States, the federal
government's discretion, and not the Constitution of the United States, would necessarily
become the measure of those powers. To the contrary, as in all other cases of compacts
among powers having no common judge, each party has an equal right to judge for itself
as to whether infractions of the compact have occurred, as well as to determine the mode
and measure of redress. Although the several states have granted supremacy to laws and
treaties made under the powers granted in the Constitution of the United States, such
supremacy does not extend to various federal statutes, executive orders, administrative
orders, court orders, rules, regulations, or other actions which collect data or restrict or
prohibit the manufacture, ownership, and use of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition
exclusively within the borders of Minnesota; such statutes, executive orders, administrative
orders, court orders, rules, regulations, and other actions exceed the powers granted to the
federal government except to the extent they are necessary and proper for governing and
regulating the United States Armed Forces or for organizing, arming, and disciplining militia
forces actively employed in the service of the United States Armed Forces;
new text end

new text begin (6) the people of the several states have given Congress the power "to regulate commerce
with foreign nations, and among the several states", but "regulating commerce" does not
include the power to limit citizens' right to keep and bear arms in defense of their families,
neighbors, persons, or property, or to dictate what sort of arms and accessories law-abiding
Minnesotans may buy, sell, exchange, or otherwise possess within the borders of this state;
new text end

new text begin (7) the people of the several states have also granted Congress the power "to lay and
collect taxes, duties, imports, and excises, to pay the debts, and provide for the common
defense and general welfare of the United States" and "to make all laws which shall be
necessary and proper for carrying into execution the powers vested by the Constitution of
the United States in the government of the United States, or in any department or office
thereof." These constitutional provisions merely identify the means by which the federal
government may execute its limited powers and shall not be construed to grant unlimited
power because to do so would be to destroy the carefully constructed equilibrium between
the federal and state governments. Consequently, the legislature rejects any claim that the
taxing and spending powers of Congress may be used to diminish in any way the right of
the people to keep and bear arms;
new text end

new text begin (8) the people of Minnesota have vested the legislature with the authority to regulate
the manufacture, possession, exchange, and use of firearms within the borders of this state,
subject only to the limits imposed by Amendment II of the Constitution of the United States
and the Constitution of Minnesota; and
new text end

new text begin (9) the legislature of the state of Minnesota strongly promotes responsible gun ownership,
including parental supervision of minors in the proper use, storage, and ownership of all
firearms; the prompt reporting of stolen firearms; and the proper enforcement of all state
gun laws. The legislature of the state of Minnesota hereby condemns any unlawful transfer
of firearms and the use of any firearm in any criminal or unlawful activity.
new text end