Minnesota Gun Owners Applaud Action on Background Checks and Extreme Risk Protection Order, Urge Senate to Follow House’s Lead 

February 27, 2020 — Minnesota Gun Owners for Safety , a coalition of hunters, sport shooters, and collectors coming together to advocate for commonsense gun violence prevention laws and promote safe and responsible gun ownership, applauded the Minnesota House of Representatives for passing legislation that requires a background check on every gun sale or transfer and establishes an extreme risk protection order, a measure that empowers law enforcement to prevent tragedies by temporarily removing guns from individuals at an elevated risk of endangering themselves or others.

Statement from Bob Mokos, Minnesota Gun Owners for Safety:

“This is what real leadership looks like. After the senate refused to take action on these lifesaving gun bills a year ago, the house didn’t pack up and go home. They regrouped and recommitted themselves to working toward a Minnesota free from the dangers of gun violence. If we’re serious about protecting Minnesotans and stopping the trauma and pain that comes from a shooting, we need leadership in the senate to follow the example set by the house. It’s time for the senate to step up and act—Minnesotan lives are on the line.”

Minnesota Gun Owners for Safety continues to push two major initiatives that were blocked by the senate last year. The first is a law to establish extreme risk protection orders and the second would require a background check on every gun sale or transfer to keep guns out of the hands of ineligible buyers and gun traffickers, dramatically increasing the likelihood of gun murders and suicides.

Last year the Minnesota House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved these measures as part of a public safety bill. Despite the progress in the house, the senate’s version of the public safety legislation did not include the background checks and extreme risk protection order language. The legislative package that came out of the conference committee between the two chambers did not include the house gun safety proposals after senate Republicans refused.

In recent years, Minnesota has been hit hard by the gun violence epidemic:

• Nearly 80% of gun deaths in Minnesota are suicides, and more than 45% of all suicide deaths in Minnesota involve firearms.
• 422 people are killed by guns in Minnesota each year—someone every 21 hours.
• Gun violence costs Minnesota $2.2 billion, or $409 per resident.

 Click here to read about the state of gun violence in Minnesota.