A Minnesota newspaper is reporting that Democrats in the state are taking advantage of their majority in the Legislature to push their pet issues, which include stricter gun control laws.
According to the Duluth News Tribune, Democrats are “starting with four gun safety proposals and bills designed to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a risk to the public.” The bills deal with a red flag law, expanded background checks, so-called “safe storage” and a requirement to quickly report lost or stolen firearms to the police. Opponents do not consider these “safety” measures at all, but are strictly gun control proposals.
The newspaper quoted St. Paul Democrat Dave Pinto, who is sponsoring the background check bill.
“The basic idea,” he explained, “behind several, really behind all of them, I suppose, is to say look: If we’ve decided that somebody has shown that they are going to be a significant danger, then we want to make sure that we’re doing more to keep guns out of their hands.”
However, Rob Doar at the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus has a different perspective. He told the newspaper the background check bill places a burden on gun owners engaged in common activities, such as loaning or even trading firearms. Doar also has concerns about the proposed “red flag” law when it comes to due process.
The background check proposal is a measure generically called a “universal background check” that applies to every transfer of pistols and semi-auto rifles. As described by the newspaper, “Both parties involved in a sale would have to present a valid transfer permit or permit to carry and government ID for a transfer.”
The “red flag” proposal would let family members or law enforcement to petition a court for a temporary prohibition of gun possession by anyone who allegedly poses a “significant risk” to themselves or others.
The safe storage bill might find heavy opposition because of the Supreme Court’s 2008 Heller decision, which nullified a requirement in Washington, D.C. to unload and lock up firearms in the home, and keep them separate from ammunition.
According to the News Tribune, it is likely the legislation will pass the House, but they might have trouble in the Senate, where the DFL holds a single-seat majority (34-33).
