Minnesota: Pro-Gun Legislation Continues Toward Passage

Your NRA-ILA is working closely with legislators to keep pro-gun measures moving forward in the North Star State.  Last night, the Minnesota Senate passed a pro-gun amendment to Senate File 878 by a 40 to 23 vote.  SF 878 is an omnibus judicial policy bill authored by state Senator Ron Latz (DFL – 46).

The pro-gun amendment was offered on the floor by state Senator Lyle Koenen (DFL-17) and included language from NRA’s 2015 legislative agenda.  After incorporation of last night's amendment, SF 878 passed later on that evening by a 39 to 22 vote.  SF 878 contains the following provisions, as well as many other measures unrelated to Second Amendment issues:

• 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, like the actions that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana.  

• Align Minnesota with more than 40 other states that have conformed their statutes to federal law so that their residents can purchase rifles and shotguns in non-contiguous states, provided that the purchase or transfer complies with state and federal law. 

• Modify the Capitol Carry Notification provision.  Current statute allows permit holders to carry on the capitol complex as long as permit holders “notify the sheriff or the commissioner of public safety, as appropriate.”  This legislation would update and clarify the statute to provide that application for a permit constitutes “notification,” as required.

• Provide a language change to help resolve carry permit reciprocity issues.

• Legalize ownership and possession of firearm sound suppressors.  Currently illegal to own under Minnesota law, suppressors are legal to own under federal law and in 39 other states.

Please thank state Senator Lyle Koenen for offering this pro-gun amendment!  Remember to thank Senators for their bi-partisan support.  To see how your state senator voted, click here.

In the coming weeks, pending the passage of its House companion, House File 849, both SF 878 and HF 849 will be sent to conference committee.  As previously reported, HF 849 is the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy Committee's omnibus policy and finance bill authored by state Representative Tony Cornish (R-23B).