(KNSI) – While House Democrats avoid the state Capitol, Republicans continue to meet and are sharing their “Make Minnesota Safe” plan.
The House Republican Caucus’ says its 13-point plan is designed to get law enforcement the tools they need to do their job, ensure violent offenders are held accountable, and aims to increase transparency in the criminal justice system. “For the past two years, the Democrat Trifecta has prioritized soft-on-crime policies that have tied the hands of law enforcement, emboldened criminals, and made our communities less safe,” said Public Safety Committee Chairman Paul Novotny, R-Elk River.
The proposal calls for increased penalties for assaulting a peace officer from a gross misdemeanor to a felony. Republicans want a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence for predators engaged in first-degree sex trafficking. GOP lawmakers want predatory offender registration required for anyone who is convicted of criminal sexual conduct and gets a stayed sentence.
The proposal also outlines tougher punishment for those found guilty of blocking a freeway, highway, transit, or the road to and from the airport. Increased penalties would be imposed for fleeing a police officer in a reckless manner and stiffer sentences would be handed down for those who trespass on or damage critical infrastructure such as pipelines, utility lines, and water lines.
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