Minnesota: Major Firearms Reform Bill Fails to Receive Consideration in the Senate as Session Ends

However, with our ongoing discussions with supportive legislators and leadership in both chambers, the NRA is optimistic that HF 1467 will be a top priority for the 2012 legislative session. Along with HF 1467, the NRA and pro-gun legislators have already expressed the intent to pass a state constitutional amendment protecting the right to keep and bear arms.

State Representative Tony Cornish (R-24B) and state Senator Gretchen Hoffman (R-10) sponsored this important legislation and deserve recognition for their efforts.  In addition to their daily efforts in championing this legislation, they also managed to get a combined 47 bipartisan cosponsors.  Click here to see how your state Representative voted on the House passage of HF 1467. 

State Representative Tony Cornish (R-24B)
[email protected]
651-296-4240

State Senator Gretchen Hoffman (R-10)
[email protected]
651-296-5655

HF 1467 contained 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.