Dear Neighbors,
Early this morning, around 1:30 AM, House Democrats voted to approve their public safety omnibus bill (SF 802). The legislation reduces sentencing and penalties for criminals and includes two extremely controversial gun control bills. The bill passed on a 70-64 vote, but had bipartisan opposition with 5 Democrats voting against the bill.
As a strong, life-long defender of the 2nd Amendment, it should come as no surprise that I voted “no” on this bill.
The anti-gun provisions in the bill make a mockery of the 2nd Amendment and our right to due process. Here’s what the provisions do:
- Add restrictions and background checks to private firearm transfers between law-abiding gun owners, effectively creating a gun registry.
- Implement a “red flag law”, violating due process rights by allowing for the confiscation of a person’s firearms if a court grants a petition for an extreme protection order.
- Do nothing to prevent gun violence or keep guns out of the hands of criminals who already don’t follow the law.
I also have concerns about how the bill moves Minnesota closer to becoming a sanctuary state by effectively providing sanctuary status to illegal immigrants who claim to be victims of a crime—all without requiring an investigation. It does this by prohibiting law enforcement from asking and disclosing the immigration status of individuals alleging a crime.
Fortunately, the Senate Republican majority has publically stated that neither of the provisions in the omnibus bill has any chance of becoming law thanks to their opposition. Nevertheless, please be sure to contact your state senator and tell them to vote “no” on these unconstitutional provisions.
Please be sure to take time and let me know your thoughts on these bills. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4229 or via email at rep.glenn.gruenhagen@house.mn.
Thanks,
Glenn