Accessibility menu
State Representative Sheldon Johnson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4201
For more information contact: Charlie Vander Aarde 651-297-8406
Press/News Releases
SHOOT FIRST BILL MISGUIDED
(ST. PAUL) – The Minnesota House of Representatives heard committee testimony today on a proposal that would lower the standard determining when a person could legally discharge a firearm against another person. The Republican-authored bill passed out of the Judiciary committee this morning. The legislation, which some have coined the “Shoot First" bill would provide additional legal cover for shooting a gun at another person.
“Shoot first? I think we should think first before we start encouraging violence and murder,” said State Representative Sheldon Johnson (DFL-St. Paul), the DFL Lead on the committee. “This bill does not solve any problems. It only serves to justify increased gun violence.”
The bill has received support from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and other pro-gun organizations. “The NRA’s support for the Shoot First bill seems an extended reach from their core mission of second amendment preservation,” said Johnson. “This is not a bill even remotely related to gun control. This bill is not a Second Amendment issue. Their advocacy to increase violent gun use should serve to show how out of touch they really are.”
Groups such as the Police and Peace Officers Association have strongly opposed the bill. “I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone this session,” said Rep. Johnson. “The Republicans can’t balance the budget through cuts alone, want to harm big business and are fighting the cops.”
-30-
News Items
- 2012 SESSION UPDATE - (Posted: 2012-05-01 00:00:00)
- 2012 SESSION UPDATE - (Posted: 2012-04-26 00:00:00)
- 2012 SESSION UPDATE - (Posted: 2012-04-19 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.