Hello, friends! It’s a new week, and I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on some of the recent activities here at the Minnesota State Capitol.
The Assault on the 2nd Amendment
This past week has seen Democrats launch another attack on our constitutional right to bear arms. Accompanied by angry protesters and liberal activists, Democrats in the Minnesota House voted to approve H.F. 8 and H.F. 9. These bills strip law-abiding citizens of their God-given right to protect themselves and their families.
Specifically, H.F. 8 establishes mandatory universal background checks for any transfer or sale of any firearm. This is a massive overreach of government control. Make no mistake, this bill continues the Democrats’ efforts to create a gun registry, confiscate firearms, and erode the Second Amendment.
Here is a link to my speech against H.F. 8: My Speech
Additionally, H.F. 9 represents an egregious miscarriage of justice, and is known as a “Red Flag Law.” This bill would allow law enforcement to strip law-abiding citizens of their guns without due process. For example, this bill allows any citizen to petition a county attorney to strip the firearms of their neighbor if it “seems like” that neighbor poses a significant danger to themselves or others. If granted, law enforcement is allowed to take those guns from the law-abiding individual. No due process, and no presumption of innocence. This law is positioned to be repeatedly abused by those who want to harm others. Furthermore, this bill puts law enforcement in danger. Such a measure totally circumvents the fundamental constitutional principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
Currently, Minnesota already has 113 pages of firearms-related laws on the books. These laws appropriately stipulate who is permitted to possess firearms and who is not. Those individuals prevented from owning a firearm include youth under the age of 18, convicted felons, mentally ill individuals, illegal drug users, chemically dependent individuals, people charged with crimes of violence or domestic violence, and people who have renounced their citizenship. There is no need for more bills. Our laws already effective dictate who should not be permitted to own a firearm. We should not include law-abiding citizens in that list.
I voted against both of these bills. These bills are garbage. I wholeheartedly believe in the Second Amendment and the right of American citizens to protect themselves and their families. There is absolutely no need to prevent law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms. Before these bills become law, they will need to go through the Minnesota Senate. Fortunately, the Minnesota Senate is controlled by Republicans, and these gun bills will not be passed by that chamber.
Contact:
If you visit the Capitol in St. Paul, please drop by and say hello! If you know a date you will be in town, please call or email my Legislative Assistant, Luke, and he will get you on the calendar. His number is 651-296-9183 or Luke.Sprinkel@house.mn