Minnesota’s Red Flag Law: A Double-Edged Sword Threatening Constitutional Rights

In early 2024, Minnesota implemented the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (ERPO), a so-called “red flag” law designed to temporarily strip firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others. On paper, it sounds like common-sense prevention. But beneath the surface, this law threatens to undermine fundamental constitutional protections while sowing confusion and inconsistency across the state.Is Minnesota Sacrificing Due Process for Perceived Security?The case of a Bloomington man planning suicide illustrates both the promise and peril of ERPOs. After police intervention and an emergency petition, judges quickly barred him from owning or purchasing guns for up to a...