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Minnesota Moms Demand Action, Everytown Applaud Minnesota House Passage of Proposals to Strengthen Background Checks on Gun Sales and Create a Red Flag Law

4.30.2019

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, this morning responded after the Minnesota House of Representatives passed public safety legislation that includes provisions to strengthen criminal background checks on gun sales and create a Red Flag law.

“This brings us one step closer to a safer state,” said Erin Zamoff, volunteer leader with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “These are exactly the kind of measures that Minnesotans and our law enforcement community have been asking for — reasonable policies to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them. We’ll be urging lawmakers to send these proposals to the governor’s desk.”

Monday morning, Gov. Tim Walz addressed a statehouse rally co-hosted by Minnesota Moms Demand Action and Protect Minnesota, saying it was likely the measures would become law “because it’s what the public wants.”

Polling conducted in 2018 by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune found that nine in 10 Minnesotans support criminal background checks on all gun sales. Additional polling last year found 87 percent of Minnesotans support the concept of Red Flag laws.

Earlier this year, Rep. Dave Pinto and Rep. Ruth Richardson introduced:

  • Legislation requiring background checks on all gun sales.
  • Red Flag legislation that would allow family members and law enforcement to petition a court for an Extreme Risk Protection Order temporarily restricting a person’s access to firearms when there is evidence that they pose a threat to self or others.

Both measures were subsequently amended, and versions of both policies were included in the omnibus public safety legislation passed today by the Minnesota House.