Friends and neighbors,  

The Minnesota Supreme Court has issued a troubling ruling that severely impacts the rights of law-abiding gun owners. In State v. Blevins, the court decided that individuals under an attack must attempt to retreat before even brandishing a weapon in self-defense. This unprecedented decision extends the duty to retreat to situations where a person merely displays a weapon to deter a threat, without using force. 

This ruling creates a dangerous precedent that could leave Minnesotans defenseless in life-threatening situations. Under this new interpretation, drawing a firearm or displaying any weapon to scare off an attacker could be considered a crime if the court determines retreat was possible. This decision fails to account for the split-second nature of self-defense scenarios and the deterrent effect that brandishing a weapon can have in preventing violence. 

This ruling has also introduced significant confusion regarding what constitutes a dangerous weapon and what qualifies as a reasonable attempt to retreat. The court’s vague language leaves citizens uncertain about whether common self-defense tools like pepper spray or even a raised fist might fall under this new rule. It is unclear how far one must go to demonstrate a “reasonable” attempt to retreat before defending oneself. This ambiguity puts law-abiding citizens in an impossible position, forcing them to second-guess their actions in critical moments when their safety is at risk. 

I am deeply concerned about the implications of this ruling for our Second Amendment rights and personal safety. It places an unreasonable burden on law-abiding citizens to determine in moments of crisis whether retreat is possible before taking defensive action.  

I am exploring legislative options to protect your right to self-defense and ensure that Minnesotans are not left vulnerable by this misguided court decision. One option is finally passing a ‘stand your ground’ bill, which I co-authored last biennium and will work on again next session.  

If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Sincerely, 

Senator Bill Lieske