MN Senate Democrats stand firm to pass controversial gun control laws.

Minnesota Senate Passes Gun Control Legislation

Democratic Minnesota senators held firm despite only a one-vote majority Friday to pass gun control legislation strongly supported by the governor that would align the battleground state with others nationally that have taken steps to keep guns out of the hands of people in crisis and criminals.

Proposals

• A “red flag law” that would allow authorities to ask courts for “extreme risk protection orders” to temporarily take guns away from people deemed to be an imminent threat to others or themselves.
• Expanded background checks for gun transfers.

The bill passed 34-33 on a party-line vote late Friday after around nine hours of debate.

“What we are going to be providing — finally — is a path forward for families and law enforcement who know that someone’s exhibiting signs of crisis and danger,” said Democratic Sen. Rob Latz of St. Louis Park, chairman of the Senate public safety committee. “And it will give them lawful tools to separate people in crisis from the firearms that are around them.”

Nineteen other states have some kind of red flag laws, Latz noted at a news conference, including several red states.

The package also includes tougher restrictions on the use by police of no-knock warrants. While it stops short of a ban, it allows only very limited exceptions.

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has repeatedly said he will sign the legislation.

The Minnesota Legislature is rushing to complete work on the major budget bills of the session before the May 22 adjournment deadline.