Minnesota: NRA-Backed Omnibus Bill Sent Back to the Senate Finance Committee!

Last year, the NRA’s top legislative priority in Minnesota was not considered on the state Senate floor before adjournment of the 2011 session.  House File 1467 was carried over from last year and was recently re-referred to the state Senate Finance Committee.  Today, it was announced that the committee has scheduled a hearing for HF 1467 next Thursday, February 9.  Please contact members of the Senate Finance committee and urge them to pass HF 1467 quickly and help send this legislation to the Governor. 

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, Minnesota only has reciprocal agreements with fifteen states and twenty-three states recognize Minnesota's permit to carry.  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 for self-defense 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.

The anti-gun forces are using every means possible to keep HF 1467 from passing and becoming law, so it is imperative that you contact members of the Senate Finance Committee today and urge them to support HF 1467.  Committee contact information can be found here.