Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus Raises Concerns Over Gun Control Bills Passing Through Commitee

(KNSI) — A slew of gun control bills working their way through the Minnesota legislature has a 2nd Amendment watchdog group worried.

Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Rob Doar tells KNSI he’s concerned about the so-called “red flag law.” He says the idea of getting guns out of the hands of people in crisis is a good one. So much so that it is already a policy in the state, but most people don’t realize it. Doar says a red flag system is less effective than remedies available currently.

“We have in Minnesota law what’s called 72 hour holds where if somebody is in a mental crisis they get a ride in an ambulance and then they get held for a medical evaluation. From there, if they need additional medical care there’s civil commitment procedures. But you’re actually addressing the person in crisis.”

Doar says red flag laws take away a person’s legally owned firearm for longer, assuming that the one action ends the potential threat they possess to themselves or others without providing necessary medical or psychological treatment.

He is concerned over other pending legislation, including the universal background check bill, which he says will affect much more than gun purchases. Simply allowing a member of your hunting party to use your gun during a shoot would fall under the restrictions laid out in the bill.

“If you want to transfer a firearm to somebody, they would have to have either a permit to purchase — not a permit to carry but a permit to purchase, or you would have to go through your local FFL dealer who’s going to charge you a fee to do that transaction.”

The bill is one of four that advanced out of the Minnesota House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee last week.

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