Minnesota: Comprehensive Firearms Reform Bill Back in Senate Finance Committee!

Tomorrow, the Senate Finance Committee will hear Senate File 1357. As previously reported, SF 1357 was placed on the Senate calendar last week to be sent to the senate floor for consideration.  Since then, SF 1357 was referred and passed through the Rules Committee and re-referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

Anti-gun forces are using every tactic possible to stall this bill before coming to another vote, so please make your voices loud and clear in support of SF 1357.  House File 1467, the companion bill for SF 1357, still waits on the House calendar for its next assignment on the House floor. 

SF 1357 contains three important firearm policy improvements:

Stand Your Ground:
SF 1357/HF 1467 would remove a person’s “duty to retreat” from an attacker, allowing law-abiding citizens to stand their ground and protect themselves or their family anywhere they are lawfully present.  It would create a presumption that an individual who forcefully or stealthily enters or attempts to enter your home or vehicle is there to cause substantial or great bodily injury or death, so the occupant may use force, including deadly force, against that individual.  It would also expressly allow an individual to use force, including deadly force, to prevent a forcible felony, and it provides protections against criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits when justifiable force is used.

Universal Recognition:
Currently, Minnesotans’ carry permits are only valid in fifteen states.  Unfortunately, Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety has not sought out any additional reciprocity agreements.  By adding the proposed language, Minnesota will recognize every state that offers a carry permit and drastically improve Minnesotans’ abilities to carry in other states.  The proposed language would also require Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety to enter in to reciprocity agreements.

Emergency Powers Reform:
The proposed language would prohibit any government agency from confiscating or regulating the lawful possession, carrying, transfer, transportation and defensive use of firearms or ammunition during a state of emergency, such as occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana.

As the end of Minnesota’s legislative session nears, these bills must pass by the deadline of Monday, May 23 in order to have a chance of becoming law this year.  Please contact members of the Senate Finance Committee TODAY and urge them to support SF 1357.

Senate Finance Committee:

Senator Claire A. Robling (R-35)
(651) 296-4123
[email protected] 

Senator Sean R. Nienow (R-17)
(651) 296-5419
[email protected]

Senator Richard J. Cohen (DFL-64)
(651) 296-5931
Click here for e-mail

Senator Linda Berglin (DFL-61)
(651) 296-4261
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Senator Terri E. Bonoff (DFL-43)
(651) 296-4314
[email protected] 

Senator Michelle L. Fischbach (R-14)
(651) 296-2084
[email protected]

Senator Barb Goodwin (DFL-50)
(651) 296-4334
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Senator Linda Higgins (DFL-58)
(651) 296-9246
[email protected] 

Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-11)
(651) 296-8063
[email protected] 

Senator Keith Langseth (DFL-9)
(651) 296-3205
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Senator Scott J. Newman (R-18)
(651) 296-4131
[email protected]

Senator Mike Parry (R-26)
(651) 296-9457
[email protected]

Gen Olson (R-33)
(651) 296-1282       
[email protected]

David Hann (R-42)
(651) 296-1749
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Doug Magnus (R-22)   
(651) 296-5650       
[email protected]