The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled 4-2 that residents can legally possess firearms without serial numbers, aligning state law with federal statutes. The decision overturns a lower court ruling and marks a significant affirmation of gun rights in the state.
The case, State v. Vagle, centered on a 2022 incident involving Logan Vagle, who was found with a pistol after a rollover accident in Fridley, Minnesota. Vagle admitted he had no permit to carry and was charged with both carrying without a permit and possessing a firearm lacking a serial number.
An Anoka County judge initially dismissed the unserialized firearm charge, but the Minnesota Court of Appeals reinstated it. The appeals court claimed state law prohibited such firearms regardless of federal allowances.
However, the Minnesota Supreme Court disagreed. In the majority opinion, Justice Paul Thissen wrote, “Because federal law does not require a serial number on the firearm that Vagle possessed, we reverse.” The ruling emphasized that Minnesota law must align with federal definitions unless specifically stated otherwise.
One justice recused herself, resulting in a 4-2 decision. The ruling effectively nullifies any blanket state prohibition on possessing unserialized firearms—often referred to as “ghost guns”—unless those firearms are otherwise illegal under federal law.
The decision does not dismiss Vagle’s other charge—carrying a pistol without a permit—which was sent back to the district court for further proceedings.
Gun rights advocates view the decision as a clear win for the Second Amendment, especially amid growing national efforts to regulate or ban unserialized firearms. The ruling reinforces that state lawmakers cannot impose restrictions more stringent than federal law without specific legislative action.
