Fargo Says It Doesnt Want Its Residents Using Their Homes ‘as Gun Stores In Lawsuit Against North Dakota

A Fargo company is suing North Dakota over a new law that bans gun and ammunition zoning, continuing a standoff over local gun control.

The state's largest city has an ordinance that prohibits people from selling guns and ammunition outside their homes. The Republican-controlled Legislature passed legislation this year barring cities and counties from regulating guns and ammunition. The law, which took effect on Tuesday, also repeals existing ordinances in this regard.

The city's lawsuit says "much more is at stake" and questions whether lawmakers can "strike away" Fargo's self-governing powers. In 1970, Fargo voters approved a self-governing charter that gave the city commission certain powers, including the right to zone public and private property.

"In light of this pending lawsuit, the North Dakota Legislature is appalled that the City of Fargo is using its authority to ban door-to-door sales of firearms and ammunition to Fargo residents — and no one else." and manufacturing ammunition for sale,” the lawsuit states. "In fact, the city of Fargo doesn't want residents using their homes as gun shops."

Two years ago, the city successfully challenged a similar law.

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment on the lawsuit. A spokesman for the city of Fargo did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Ben Kopelman, said in the state Senate in April that the issue arose when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rejected an executive order in 2016 to reopen federal firearms law. license. Fargo merchants selling their homes.

"The debate is whether we want local governments to enforce gun control or whether we want gun regulation to remain under state control," he said. Kopelman in April. "Without this bill and in light of the court order (2021), I think local political divisions could develop all kinds of local gun control, and based on the records of the City of Fargo Gun Commission, I think we can expect that."

Kopelman did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.

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