Minnesota: State House Concurs with Senate Version of the Self-Defense Reform Bill

Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives concurred with the Senate version of House File 1467 by an 85 to 47 vote.  This legislation was previously passed in the state Senate by a 40 to 23 vote. HB 1467 will now be sent to Governor Mark Dayton for his approval, something that he has indicated he may not do.

Vetoing this legislation, after now passing in both chambers by wide majorities would confirm that Governor Dayton does not support our Second Amendment rights. Please contact Governor Dayton TODAY and urge him to respect the wishes of the state legislature, respect your Second Amendment rights and sign HF 1467 into law.

Governor Mark Dayton
Telephone: 651-201-3400
Toll-Free: 800-657-3717
Contact the Governor

This NRA-priority legislation expands the rights of gun owners in the following three ways:

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 when justifiable force is used.

Universal Recognition:
Currently, Minnesota has reciprocal agreements with only fifteen states and 23 states recognize Minnesota's permit to carry.  Unfortunately, Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety has not sought out any additional reciprocity agreements.  By adding our proposed language, Minnesota will recognize every state that offers a carry permit and drastically improve Minnesotans’ abilities to carry for self-defense in other states.  This legislation would also require Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety to enter in to reciprocity agreements.

Emergency Powers Reform:
This legislation 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.