ST. PAUL, Minn. — With Governor Tim Walz expected to convene the Legislature to reform gun laws after the Annunciation Church mass shooting, Democrats and Repbluoains have out very different goals. A summary:
Democrats
> Assault weapons: Prohibit the sale of semi-automatic military-style rifles.
> High-capacity magazine: Ban magazines that hold large numbers of rounds.
> Safe storage: Require firearms to be stored securely.
> Liability insurance: Require liability insurance for gun owners.
> Expanded “red flag” law: Strengthen the existing “red flag” law to be remove guns temporarily from individuals deemed a threat.
Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Bloomington mayors are also urging the legislature to repeal a state law that prevents cities from enacting their own gun restrictions, which would allow them to pass local assault weapons and high-capacity magazine bans.
Republicans
> School security grants: Expand school security funding, including non-public schools.
> School resource officers: Boost funding to hire more officers.
> Mental health: Increasing funding for mental health services and establishing more hospital beds for mental health patients.
> Mandatory minimum sentences: Make minimum prison sentences mandatory for certain gun crimes.
> Straw purchaser penalties: Stiffen penalties against individuals who buy guns for people legally prohibited from owning them.
> Enforce existing laws: Better enforcement of existing gun laws, including the “red flag” law.
> Repeal conversion therapy: Reverse the state ban against gender adjustment conversion therapy and facilitating sexual orientation conversion.