Minnesota Court Allows Ghost Guns Without Serial Numbers

The Minnesota Supreme Court, in a split decision authored by Justice Paul Thissen, ruled that possession of 'ghost guns'—privately made firearms without serial numbers—is legal under current state law if federal law does not require serial numbers for those firearms. The case stemmed from a 2022 traffic stop in Fridley, where a man was found with a ghost gun and charged under a Minnesota statute referencing federal serial number requirements. The court found that Minnesota lacks its own legislation mandating serial numbers, leaving regulation of ghost guns to the federal standard. Law enforcement officials expressed concern that the ruling could hinder efforts to combat gun trafficking and solve crimes. The decision leaves room for the state legislature to enact new laws specifically addressing ghost guns. The defendant’s separate charge for carrying a pistol without a permit remains unresolved.