Victory for Public Safety: Minnesota Legislators Reject Dangerous Stand Your Ground, Permitless Carry Bills

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, thanked legislators as the close of Minnesota’s legislative session marked the defeat of Stand Your Ground and permitless carry legislation introduced earlier this year. Among other gun bills, legislators rejected:

• H 238 and S 292, which would have made Minnesota only the third new Stand Your Ground state since 2011. More information on S 292 and H 238 is available here.
  
• H 188 and S 650, which would have let people carry loaded handguns in public without a permit or safety training, and may have even forced K-12 schools and colleges to allow people to carry loaded handguns on their premises. More information on S 650 and H 188 is available here.

In March, more than 200 volunteers with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the Everytown Survivor Network, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, converged on the Minnesota State Capitol and urged lawmakers to oppose these Stand Your Ground and permitless carry bills. Moms Demand Action volunteers were also among the Stand Your Ground opponents who packed a March statehouse hearing on the bill.

Moms Demand Action volunteers also joined lawmakers, members of law enforcement and other gun safety advocates at a February statehouse press conference in support of gun violence prevention. The event was convened by Sen. Jeff Hayden in honor of his late sister Taylor, who was killed last August by a bullet intended for someone else, and who have would have turned 26 that day.

STATEMENT FROM MARIT BROCK, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE MINNESOTA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“Minnesotans made it clear this session that reckless policies like Stand Your Ground and permitless carry have no place in our state, and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have shown they heard our concerns. Those who want to weaken our gun laws will be back next year, but so will we, and we’ll go back to the Capitol as many times as it takes to make sure our leaders continue to stand up for the safety of our families and communities.”