Dear Neighbor,
I hope your summer is going well and that you are having a great time with family, friends, and summer activities!
As we approach the end of August it is that time of year again for the great Minnesota get together. The Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 27 through Sept. 7. If you plan to attend the fair this year, I invite you to stop by the House of Representatives booth located in the Education Building (near the fair's main entrance off Snelling Avenue and Cosgrove Street). Visitors to the House booth will have an opportunity to meet state Reps., learn more about the Legislature, and receive a free Capitol dome hat for children of all ages.
The House booth also provides an opportunity for citizens to participate in an opinion poll. One of the survey questions reads: Should the state constitution be amended to protect electronic communications and data, such as email or text messages, from unreasonable government searches and seizure? As you are aware, I am a strong supporter of digital privacy rights. I will be interested to see the results of the poll and will pass along the findings when they are made available after the fair.
In other news from the Capitol, the 2015 session was a productive year for those of us strong supporters of our Second Amendment liberties. Five major provisions strengthening our Second Amendment rights passed into law earlier this year with Aug. 1 marking the date the remainder of the five provisions took into effect.
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Permit to carry holders are now legally allowed to carry firearms at the Minnesota State Capitol Complex WITHOUT having to first provide a redundant notification to the Commissioner of Public Safety when carrying a firearm. Simply obtaining a permit to carry now serves as notification.
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Updating Minnesota law to conform to Federal law making it clear law abiding Minnesotans are allowed to purchase long guns in any other state where such sale and delivery is legal under the federal Gun Control Act of 1968. I was chief author of this provision.
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A change in permit to carry reciprocity language to resulted in the Commissioner of Public Safety granting permit to carry reciprocity with North Dakota. This means Minnesota permit to carry holders can now carry in all four contiguous states to Minnesota (e.g., North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin). The full list of permit to carry reciprocity states can be found here: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-divisions/administrative/Pages/permit-to-carry-reciprocity.aspx
The provisions which took effect earlier this year included the legalization of owning and possessing firearm sound suppressors and preventing the confiscation of firearms from law abiding citizens simply because of a declared emergency to ensure state and local officials do not violate the Constitution under the pressure of an emergency situation.
Have a good remainder of the summer! As always, please stay in touch and let me know how I may be of assistance which any issue or concern you may have.
Sincerely,
Eric Lucero
State Rep. District 30B
Albertville, Hanover, Otsego, Saint Michael, and the Wright County portion of Dayton