In a marathon session of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Democratic legislators passed new gun control legislation known as the “safe and secure storage” law. A top priority for Democrats this session, the bill faces uncertainty in the closely divided Minnesota Senate.
Authored by Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, D-Roseville, HF 4300 would set new standards for firearms storage. Under the proposed law, gun owners must either store their firearms unloaded with a locking device, in a locked “firearm storage unit” such as a safe, or in a locked gun room. The firearms would need to be stored in one of these ways when the firearm is not “under the direct physical control or reach of the person.”
MN Democrat Kaohly Vang Her suggests that victims of stalking or harassment, or those who have an active restraining order filed, don’t have enough training to be allowed easy access to their firearms. pic.twitter.com/PN9mpJGQqs
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) May 3, 2024
The proposed law contains certain exceptions related to sporting events, firearms education, hunting, motor vehicle transportation of firearms, and law enforcement use of firearms.
Should the legislation become state law, citizens convicted of violating the storage standards would face consequences ranging from petty misdemeanors to felonies depending on the offense.
HF 4300 was passed in the House after many hours of debate by a vote of 68-64.
Following passage by the House, HF 4300 would need to be approved by the Minnesota Senate and signed by the governor in order to become law. While the Senate version of the proposed law has advanced through several committees, the legislation has not been voted on by the full chamber.
Democrats currently control the Senate with a slim majority: 34 Democrats, 33 Republicans. Given the widespread Republican opposition to the firearms storage bill, Senate Democrats will likely need every single one of their members to support HF 4300 in order for it to pass.
“On the same day that this bill was introduced back in February, the majority in this body also introduced a bill that would repeal mandatory minimum sentences for violent crimes involving firearms. So you have to ask yourselves: are you serious about cracking down on gun crimes? I don’t think so,” House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, said in a speech opposing the bill.
“What this bill does it is it makes it so much more difficult to get to that firearm in the case of an emergency,” she added. “Law-abiding gun owners should not be penalized for just being prepared to defend themselves.”
Whenever HF 4300 is taken up for a vote by the Senate, all eyes will be on Sen. Grant Hauschild, D-Hermantown, and Sen. Rob Kupec, D-Moorhead. Both Democratic senators represent rural Minnesota communities that strongly support gun rights and the Second Amendment. A “no” vote from either senator would essentially end any possibility of the firearms storage standards becoming law this year.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
