Senator Andrew Mathews (R–Princeton) and Representative Shane Mekeland (R–Clear Lake) issued the following statement after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in State v. Vagle that Minnesota statutes only require a serial number on a firearm when the firearm must have a serial number under federal law. This decision has implications for Walker Anderson, of Becker, who has been facing felony charges for possessing privately made firearms lacking serial numbers.

"In light of the State v. Vagle decision, the charges against Mr. Anderson have no path forward and it's time for this witch hunt to end so this young man can go on with his life. These baseless charges and gross misinterpretation of state law already have caused Mr. Anderson to suffer great damages over the last three years and it needs to end now."