DOJ Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota Over Firearm Waiting Period

On Thursday, President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota regarding its firearm purchase waiting period.

Breitbart News reported that on September 18, 2026, the DOJ had already hinted at this legal action, criticizing Minnesota’s permit to purchase system for handguns and select rifles.

In a letter directed to Governor Tim Walz, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon highlighted that Minnesota offers two methods for residents to acquire handguns: either a Transferee Report or a Permit to Purchase. She emphasized that the first option requires a 30-day approval period, while applicants for the Permit must allow law enforcement up to 30 days to issue it.

Regardless of the option chosen, Dhillon noted that Minnesota residents can face waits of up to thirty days to purchase a firearm, with some individuals experiencing delays of nearly 60 days.

Following her letter, the DOJ has now pursued a lawsuit.

A press release from the DOJ accompanied the lawsuit. Dhillon remarked, “The Supreme Court held that the home is where the need for defense of self, family, and property is most acute. When a person needs to defend their home, they need to defend it now, not thirty to sixty days from now. Law-abiding citizens do not need government permission to purchase a firearm, and forcing a citizen who has already passed a background check to wait up to sixty days to obtain a firearm is intolerable under the Constitution.”