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This week at the State Capitol was shortened due to the Passover Celebration. The legislative session is scheduled to end by May 20th. Therefore, these last few weeks will be full of long days debating the many omnibus bills that, if passed, will have an impact on all of us.
Does the slogan, “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner,” sound familiar? It is an ad campaign started in 1992 promoting beef. This week, the Minnesota State Cattleman’s Association was at the Capitol for the annual beef on a stick day. Minnesota is a powerhouse in agriculture, and we should support our farmers in all ways, including having agriculture-friendly legislation. Some interesting facts about the Minnesota Beef Industry include:
· Minnesota ranks number 10 in cattle production in the nation.
· Minnesota has 2,420,000 head of cattle and calves and produces $2 billion in total sales annually.
· There are 20,383 cattle farms in Minnesota.
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The majority party has calendared several anti-2nd Amendment bills for Monday’s House floor session. This continues their crusade against law-abiding gun owners while criminals run rampant, ignoring the law, and getting a slap on the wrist for it. Residents of our district have voiced their opposition to these bills. As a firm believer in our 2nd Amendment rights, I plan to vote no on all three bills. Below is a description of the bills to be heard on the House Floor.
HF 4300 - Establishing standards for the storage of firearms.
- Under current law, it is a crime to store or leave a loaded firearm in a location where the person knows, or should know, that a child is likely to gain access to the firearm unless the person takes reasonable action to prevent a child from accessing the firearm.
- This bill expands the requirements related to the storage of firearms to say that a person must either store a firearm unloaded and equipped with a locking device or else store the firearm in a firearm storage unit or gun room. Failure to store firearms as required is a crime that may be punished by a petty misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony sentence. Enforcement of this law will be difficult.
HF 601 - Reporting requirements for lost and stolen firearms.
- This bill requires a person who owns, possesses, or controls a firearm to report a loss or theft of the firearm to law enforcement within 48 hours of the time the person knew, or reasonably should have known, of the loss or theft. It establishes that a first violation is a petty misdemeanor, a second violation is a misdemeanor, and additional violations are gross misdemeanors.
- Grants immunity from criminal firearm storage charges for those who comply with the reporting requirement. Requires chief law enforcement officers to inform the commissioner of public safety of all lost and stolen firearms.
HF 2609 - Amending the crime of transferring a firearm to an ineligible person, requiring reports, and amending the definition of “trigger activator”.
- A trigger activator includes a device that allows a semiautomatic firearm to shoot more than one shot with a single pull and release of the trigger.
- The bill includes an increase in the penalty for the transfer of any firearm by someone who knows the person receiving the firearm is ineligible to possess a firearm. This type of transfer is sometimes referred to as a “straw purchase.”
Have a wonderful weekend,
Bobbie
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Please Contact Me
It’s an honor and privilege to work for you at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas. I am here to serve you!
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/RepBobbieHarder
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211 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
651.296.4229 |
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