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State Representative Paul Anderson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4317
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
NEWS COLUMN
CLARIFICATIONS ON UNCASED FIREARMS LAW
By State Rep. Paul Anderson
I enjoy getting questions from constituents because it shows they are interested in how the system works and want to understand how various state laws and programs affect them. I got one the other day from someone who wanted clarification on Minnesota’s new uncased firearms law. The statute is not as clear-cut as it may seem, and here’s why:
It is still unlawful to transport firearms outside lawful hunting seasons in a motor vehicle unless the firearm is in a case that’s zipped or locked, or unless the firearm is in a closed trunk of a car. What the Legislature did this past session was expand the exceptions to the cased-firearms restriction.
These exceptions include while lawfully hunting on public or private land, or while traveling to and from land that the person has lawfully hunted that day or intends to hunt that day. The exception also includes transporting a firearm while at a shooting range where the person has received permission to discharge firearms.
Three metro-area counties - Anoka, Hennepin, and Ramsey - opted out of the new law. In addition, a person may not transport uncased firearms within the boundaries of cities with populations of 2,500 or more. Jurisdictions that prohibit the discharge of firearms, along with school grounds, are other areas where uncased firearms are not allowed.
Several new laws take effect Aug. 1. Among them is new legislation that says persons who lose their cell phones will not be liable for charges from unauthorized use of their lost or stolen phone. The person must notify their provider and also agree to temporarily suspend service to their phone.
Regulations pertaining to so-called “pay-day lending” have also been tightened. Pay-day lending is the name given to the practice of borrowing money, usually at a higher than normal rate of interest, where a person’s future paycheck is used as collateral. One particular method, known as serial borrowing, where the customer has been allowed to keep rolling the loans, will now be especially scrutinized.
Drivers of all-terrain vehicles should be aware of new legislation that puts more restrictions on where they can ride. The new penalties are designed to protect wetlands and other sensitive areas. Violations will be gross misdemeanors and, for a second violation, vehicle seizure could result.
Here’s a new law that makes one wonder just how far we should be going with legislation: Beginning Aug. 1, campus bookstores at public colleges and universities, to the extent possible, must offer clothing for sale that is made in the United States. This new directive sounds good, but most clothing today is made overseas. And, depending on how the wording “to the extent possible” is interpreted, it may cause unauthorized school clothing stores to pop up just off the campuses of our state schools of higher education.
Also pertaining to higher ed, a new large-animal veterinarian loan forgiveness program takes effect Aug. 1. The $225,000 allotted will be used to help pay the schooling of new vets who operate full time in under-served areas of the state and who work mostly with food animals.
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Rep. Anderson encourages constituents to contact his new office with input regarding any state legislative issue. He can be reached on the web at www.house.mn/13A and via email at rep.paul.anderson@house.mn. To contact Anderson by phone, call (651) 296-4317. Mail can be sent to Rep. Paul Anderson, 239 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.
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