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Minneapolis is the latest Minnesota city to take a symbolic move towards gun violence prevention. 

The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday unanimously passed a ban on assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, binary triggers and ghost guns that would go into effect if state law ever changes. 

 preventing local governments from regulating firearms, according to Everytown. Though state lawmakers introduced a bill to repeal the law this session, it 

. Advocates anticipate the bill will be discussed again next year. 

Ghost guns are guns that don't have a serial number, making them harder for law enforcement to trace. The city defined large-capacity magazines as those containing more than 10 rounds and an assault weapon as a “semiautomatic military-style assault weapon” as defined in 

 would also require safe storage of firearms and prohibit carrying firearms in “sensitive places,” which includes Minneapolis-owned schools and government buildings. 

Cities pressure state leaders to take action 

St. Paul passed a similar ordinance last fall, with leaders from more than a dozen cities pledging to do the same following the Aug. 27 mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School

 A shooter had fired 116 rifle rounds in about two minutes into the church during Mass, killing two children and injuring 28 other people. 

That took place just a day after another mass shooting outside Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis that left one person dead and six injured. 

Local leaders call for state action allowing cities to pass gun restrictions

Minneapolis poised to pass assault weapons ban

With the vote, Minneapolis council members urged state lawmakers to take action as efforts to restrict firearms stall on the state level. 

firearm restrictions and school safety funding

 on a 34-33 party-line vote, but the state House, divided 67-67, has yet to advance companion bills. Less than two weeks remain of this legislative session. 

The ordinance passed with no discussion, but on Tuesday Annunciation parents and community members had cheered it on.  

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey shared his support for the city ordinance. 

“I believe every person in Minneapolis deserves to feel safe in their home, their neighborhood, and their community. That’s why I’m proud to work alongside the Minneapolis City Council to advance common-sense gun reforms that help prevent violence, protect families, and make our city safer for everyone,” Frey said in an emailed statement. Next, Frey needs to sign the bill.

The city said it does have authority to enact certain parts of the ordinance, including banning people from owning any weapons if they're already banned from owning guns under state or federal law, and limiting where people can shoot guns. 

The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus said it intends to “evaluate every available legal option to challenge” the ordinance including suing.

“The City of Minneapolis is attempting to make a political statement with an ordinance it has no legal authority to enact. Minnesota law clearly preempts the entire field of firearms regulation, and local governments cannot simply ignore state statute because they dislike the policy outcome,” chair Bryan Strawser said in a statement.

In addition to being challenged at the state level, the ordinance could face federal scrutiny. Tuesday, 

the Trump administration sued Denver over its assault weapons ban

 which has been in place since 1989, alleging the ban violates the Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms.

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 The ban would only go into effect if the Minnesota Legislature repeals a law preventing cities from regulating guns. A bill to do so was introduced at the Capitol this year but is not moving forward. 

Minneapolis passes assault-weapon ban — but state law will block it

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