MN Governor approves stricter gun control bill.

Minnesota Governor Signs Sweeping Gun Control Bill into Law

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has signed a comprehensive gun control bill into law, which includes universal background checks and a “red flag” measure that allows law enforcement to intervene if someone is deemed at high risk of injuring themselves or others with a firearm. The bill was passed along party lines in the Minnesota state Senate and was folded into a broader public safety bill that includes funding for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to fight violent crime, limits on no-knock warrants, and grants for community-based crime prevention efforts.

Creating a Safer Future for Our Kids

As a veteran, gun-owner, hunter, and dad, Governor Walz believes that basic gun safety is not a threat to the Second Amendment, but rather a way to keep our kids safe. He called the bill “commonsense, life-saving legislation” and emphasized that there is no place for weapons of war in our schools, churches, banks, or anywhere else people are just trying to live their lives. By signing this measure into law, Governor Walz hopes to take meaningful action to create a safer future for our kids.

Opposition to the Bill

The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) called the bill a “kitchen sink” gun control bill for its sweeping provisions, including the red flag law that allows authorities to ask courts to grant “extreme risk protection orders” to take someone’s guns away temporarily if they’re deemed a threat to themselves or others. Opponents of the measure argue that it infringes on the Second Amendment and will be ineffective at reducing crime or rates of suicide.

Gun Control Advocates Hail the Decision

Gabby Giffords, a former Democrat congresswoman who became a gun control advocate after being shot in the head in 2011, hailed Governor Walz’s decision to sign the measure into law. Giffords, who was present at the signing ceremony along with legislators and other gun control campaigners, called for more efforts to stop “gun violence” and emphasized that stopping gun violence takes courage. However, opponents of the bill argue that it is more likely to criminalize “common conduct among peaceful gun owners” than it is to tackle the market for illegal guns.

Conclusion

While the bill has its opponents, Governor Walz believes that it is a necessary step towards creating a safer future for our kids. By implementing universal background checks and a red flag law, Minnesota hopes to prevent gun violence and protect its citizens. Only time will tell if these measures will be effective, but for now, Minnesota is taking a stand for gun control.