Minnesota: Anti-Gun Bills Scheduled for Hearings Next Week

Next Tuesday, April 26, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing for Senate File 2493 and Senate File 2980 at 8:30am in Room 1200 of the Minnesota Senate Building.  The committee will be taking public testimony on these bills.

Please consider attending this hearing to voice your strong opposition to these bills! It is vital that law-abiding gun owners have a strong presence at this hearing.  Also, please click the “Take Action” button below to contact the Senate Judiciary Committee members in opposition to these bills!

SF 2493, if passed, would expand background checks to all sales and transfers of firearms in the state of Minnesota, with limited and narrow exceptions.  This bill, much like other anti-gun legislation, is aimed at providing a false sense of safety while infringing upon the rights of law-abiding gun owners and those that wish to lawfully purchase a firearm.  This legislation will do nothing to prevent criminals from obtaining firearms and will only put an unnecessary burden upon law-abiding citizens. 

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 77% of criminals obtain guns through theft, on the black market, from drug dealers and other illicit sources.  Criminals, by definition, do not follow the law and are not going to subject themselves to a background check to acquire a firearm. Clearly, this proposal will do nothing to prevent criminals from illegally obtaining firearms.  

SF 2980 would allow a family or household member to petition the court to prohibit an individual from possessing firearms.  This petition strips the accused of their Second Amendment rights and would be issued by a judge based solely on a brief statement of an accuser before the accused can appear in court to defend themselves against the allegations.  This bill clearly go against an individual’s right to due process and presents a real threat to gun owners across Minnesota. 

Once again, please consider attending this hearing and click the “Take Action” button above to contact the Senate Judiciary Committee members with your opposition to these bills!

Senate Judiciary Committee
Minnesota Senate Building
Room 1200
April 26, 2016
8:30 a.m.