Please Thank the Members of the House Civil Justice Committee Who Opposed the Bill!

On Wednesday, March 3, the House Civil Justice Committee passed House File 1396 by a vote of 6-5.  The bill will now advance to the House Public Safety Policy and Oversight Committee for consideration.

HF 1396 includes a provision that would allow a court that issues a domestic abuse protective order to prohibit the respondent from having any contact with a PET OR COMPANION ANIMAL OWNED, POSSESSED, OR KEPT by a party protected in the order.  This new provision could have serious consequences for Minnesotans who exercise their right to keep and bear arms.

Under Minnesota law, a person who is convicted of violating an order of protection may not possess a pistol for three years from the date of conviction.  However, if the court finds the person "used" a firearm in any way during the commission of the violation, the court may prohibit the person from possessing any firearm for ANY period longer than three years or for the remainder of the person’s life.  In the latter case, the court shall also order that the firearm be summarily forfeited.  Because this bill would allow a court to order the respondent to have no contact with the pet or companion animal, such an order could be violated merely by inadvertent contact with a "protected" pet.  Thus, depending on the circumstances of the contact, a person could be subject to these firearms prohibitions for contacting the pet or companion animal, whether or not the contact resulted in injury or trauma to the animal.

Please contact the members who opposed HF 1396 and thank them for opposing such detrimental legislation.  Members who voted against this bill are listed below, along with their contact information.

State Representative Steve Drazkowski (R-28B)
651-296-2273
rep.steve.drazkowski@house.mn 

State Representative Mary Liz Holberg (R-36A)
651-296-6926
rep.maryliz.holberg@house.mn 

State Representative Dave Olin (DFL-1A)
651-296-9635
rep.dave.olin@house.mn

State Representative Peggy Scott (R-49A)
651-296-4231
rep.peggy.scott@house.mn 

State Representative Torrey Westrom (R-11A)
651-296-4929
rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn

Please keep checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for further updates on HF 1396.