On May 12, 2023, the Minnesota state Senate passed broad-based gun control measures by a 34-33 vote. These measures consisted of a “red flag” gun confiscation order.
This would grant law enforcement the power to ask courts for “extreme risk protection orders” to temporarily confiscate firearms from individuals who are considered to be a threat to themselves or others.
On top of that, this bill features universal background checks for private transfers of pistols and “semi-automatic military-style assault weapons.”
A Violation of the Second Amendment
Opponents argue this anti-gun legislative package infringes on individuals’ due process and their Second Amendment rights.
Gov. Tim Waltz (D-MN) is expected to sign this bill into law. On May 16, Waltz sounded off on the bill in a Twitter post he published.
As a veteran, gun-owner, hunter, and dad, I know that basic gun safety isn’t a threat to the Second Amendment.
It’s about our first responsibility to our kids: Keeping them safe.
When the bill reaches my desk, I’m going to sign a red flag law and background checks into law.— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) May 16, 2023
Minnesota’s Anti-Gun Turn
With a Democratic trifecta at the state level, gun control advocates in Minnesota have taken advantage of the state’s political dynamic to pass this legislation.
Despite holding a razor-thin advantage (34-33) in the Senate and a slight majority in the State House (70-64), Democrats were still able to pass gun control legislation.
Minnesota Senate passes sweeping gun control laws, including 'red flag law' https://t.co/lln7bYx788 #FoxNews
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) May 17, 2023
Minnesota is gradually turning into one of the more anti-gun states in the nation. According to Guns & Ammo magazine’s rankings for best states for gun owners, Minnesota is ranked in 38th place.
Should Waltz sign this latest gun control package into law, Minnesota will continue descending into anti-gun status.
Eventually, if this pattern in Minnesota continues as it has been, the state will be competing with the likes of California and New York as one of the most anti-gun jurisdictions in the union.
This doesn’t bode well for all the liberty lovers in Minnesota and in other states that value the right to self-protection and the right to bear arms. However, more of this can be expected in states where Democrats are running things.
This article appeared in TheDailyBeat and has been published here with permission.
