Minnesota: Comprehensive Firearms Reform to be Voted on TOMORROW by the Full House!

Immediate Action is Needed!

Tomorrow, May 14, the full House will discuss and vote on House File 1467. As previously reported, HF 1467 was placed on the House calendar awaiting assignment, but the House has decided to move forward quickly with their agenda. 

Today, the companion bill for HF 1467, Senate File 1357, passed in the Senate Finance Committee by a 8 to 6 vote. SF 1357 will now be placed on the Senate calendar to await floor debate. 

Please make your voice heard as the anti-gun forces are using every means possible to keep HF 1467 and SF 1357 from becoming law. 

HF 1467 contains three important firearm policy improvements:

Stand Your Ground:
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 scheduled deadline of Monday, May 23 in order to have a chance of becoming law this year.  Please contact your state Representative TODAY and urge him or her to support HF 1467.  To contact your state Representative please click here.