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MOORHEAD 鈥� Binary triggers, used in the killing of a Fargo police officer last year and three Burnsville responders in February, will be banned in Minnesota by a new law signed by Gov. Tim Walz on Monday, June 3.

adds binary triggers to the definition of 鈥渢rigger activators,鈥� which are already banned in Minnesota. The device allows a firearm to fire one round when a trigger is pulled and a second round on the release of the trigger.

The law also increases penalties for straw purchases of firearms, which is when a person buys a firearm for someone who is not legally allowed to have one.

The rifle used in the July 14, 2023, shooting that killed Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin and injured two other officers and a bystander was equipped with a binary trigger. The device allowed 37-year-old Mohamad Barakat, of Fargo, to rapidly shoot at law enforcement. Two other officers and a bystander were seriously injured in the shooting.

Binary triggers are legal in North Dakota, with the state Legislature carving out an in a 2019 law. added language into law that stated a 鈥渕achine gun, submachine gun or fully automatic rifle,鈥� which is banned under North Dakota law, 鈥渄oes not include a binary trigger that fires one round upon the pull of the trigger and one round upon release of the trigger.鈥�

The new Minnesota law comes after a binary trigger was used in a Burnsville, Minnesota, shooting in February in which two police officers and a firefighter-paramedic were killed. A five guns on behalf of the shooter, who used two firearms in the Feb. 18 shooting.

Sen. Heather Gustafson, D-Vadnais Heights, carried the bill. She told reporters the from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

While binary triggers remain legal in North Dakota, on March 21, North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley he heard several lawmakers plan to propose legislation to ban binary triggers in the state, and he expects to support that legislation. He said he sees no value in having guns equipped with a binary trigger.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 assist in accuracy in any meaningful way,鈥� Wrigley said. 鈥淲hat it does, as it did in this incident, is it allows the perpetrator to create a spray of bullets."

The part of the law around straw purchases increases penalties for straw purchasing from a gross misdemeanor to a felony charge. People who buy firearms for others who are not legally allowed to possess that firearm could be sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of more than $10,000.

In October 2022, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison alleging it negligently sold firearms to straw purchasers. On June 3, Ellison to the lawsuit against Fleet Farm, alleging the retailer violated the Minnesota Gun Control Act.

In a June 3 press release, Gustafson said the new law was a step toward keeping communities, law enforcement and first responders safe.

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鈥淜eeping guns out of the hands of people who shouldn鈥檛 have them is a goal that all Minnesotans can agree upon,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hile there is more work to do, today is progress for our communities, for victims and their families, and for those who protect and serve our State.鈥�

The section of the law banning binary triggers goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025. Increased penalties for straw purchasing go into effect on Aug. 1 and will apply to crimes committed on or after that date.