Dear Neighbor,
Inside this edition of the Peppin Report:
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Firearms Regulation and Protecting Second Amendment Rights
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Interview with University of St. Thomas Magazine
1) Firearms Regulation and Protecting Second Amendment Rights
On Thursday, April 16, the House passed four bills with broad bipartisan support that protect the Second Amendment rights of Minnesotans.
House File 327 amends state law to ensure that the issuance of a legally authorized permit to carry is sufficient notification to the commissioner of public safety that a firearm may be carried within the Capitol area, a 100-block span that extends well past the actual state capitol building from W. Pennsylvania Ave to the Minnesota History Center. Currently, failure to notify could result in a felony charge for any individuals carrying a firearm within this area. There have been zero cases of permit-to-carry holders causing trouble in the Capitol area.
House File 830 updates existing state law to conform to federal law. In 1968, the Federal Gun Control Act said that citizens can only buy a long gun (generally a rifle or shotgun that’s designed to be used by a single person and fired from the shoulder) in your state and adjoining states, provided that neither state prohibits the transaction. The Minnesota Legislature passed a law in 1969 affirming that there is no prohibition for the sale of long guns between Minnesota and adjoining states. In 1986, Congress removed the contiguous state restriction, affirming that it is legal to purchase a long gun in any other state, so long as there is no state law against it. Since 1986, we have not updated our state statute to reflect this federal change. This bill ensures that the law is readable to all and brings Minnesota’s law into line with federal laws.
House File 722 ensures that government agents cannot seize firearms from law-abiding citizens during a state of emergency, and clarifies current practices surrounding the return of seized firearms. Post-Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana law enforcement officials visited the homes of residents in disaster zones and seized all firearms. After the state of emergency had ended, many firearms were not returned, and if they were, many were unusable after the long period without proper maintenance. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana and 29 other states enacted similar legislation.
House File 1434 eliminates the prohibition on the ownership of suppressors. This leaves in place the extensive federal background check process, which includes a background check by local chief law enforcement officer, the federal government, and the standard national instant background check. Target shooting at indoor ranges is becoming increasingly popular and this legislation will help to prevent ear damage based on the level of noise that occurs when a firearm is discharged. Suppressors are allowed in 39 other states.
2) Interview with University of St. Thomas Magazine
Earlier this year I sat down with a reporter from B. magazine, a publication of the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business – an institution from which I graduated in 2007 – to talk about my role as House Majority Leader and how my education shapes my perspective as a legislator.
The 2015 Legislative Session is set to get even busier in the coming weeks so please don’t hesitate to contact me on issues of concern to you. My direct line is 651-296-7806. My email address is rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn and my mailing address is Room 459 State Office Building, 100 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155
Have a wonderful weekend,
Joyce
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