Minnesota Law’s Gun Violence Prevention Clinic Succeeds in Federal District Court in Fleet Farm Case

The Gun Violence Prevention Clinic, led by Professor Megan Walsh, collaborated with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office in State of Minnesota v. Fleet Farm LLC et al, earning a significant victory in Federal District Court. Judge John Tunheim ’80 denied Fleet Farm’s motion for summary judgment and allowed the State of Minnesota’s strongest claims alleging unlawful gun sales to proceed to trial.

The State contends that Fleet Farm negligently sold dozens of firearms to straw purchasers, contributing to illegal gun trafficking and violence across Minnesota. In his ruling, Judge Tunheim held that the State has standing to pursue the case on behalf of the public, rejected Fleet Farm’s challenges to causation, and allowed the claims for negligence, negligence per se, public nuisance, and key portions of the Minnesota Gun Control Act to proceed to trial.

Clinic students Will Roberts ’25, Arielle Hugel ’25, and Callan Showers ’25 supported the Attorney General’s Office throughout the case, contributing to the briefing and legal strategy behind this important motion.

The ruling paves the way for trial, where the Attorney General’s Office will present evidence that Fleet Farm ignored clear red flags of straw purchasing, including bulk handgun sales later linked to high-profile shootings. By helping preserve the State’s strongest claims, the Clinic’s work ensures Minnesota will have the opportunity to hold a major gun retailer accountable for practices that endanger public safety.