St. Paul, MN - Yesterday, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed SF 2909, the Judiciary and Public Safety Budget. The public safety portion of the budget invests in a diverse set of tools to improve public safety, including a holistic approach to gun violence prevention, funding for law enforcement and victims of crime, and more. This report will create a safer Minnesota while working to break cycles of crime and violence.
State Representative Brad Tabke (DFL - Shakopee), who serves on the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee in the House, voted in support of the legislation.
“All Minnesotans deserve to feel safe in their communities, and the common-sense gun safety measures in our bill bring us closer to that goal by keeping guns out of the hands of people who wish to harm themselves or others,” said Rep. Tabke. “Inaction is not an acceptable response to the gun violence epidemic in our nation. Measures such as red flag laws and background checks are the tools we need for a safer Minnesota.”
In response to increasing gun violence, now the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., the bill includes a number of violence prevention measures. It implements criminal background checks to keep guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from having them. It also includes a red flag law, creating an effective tool to prevent those likely to cause harm from doing so. Lastly, it makes historic investments in gun violence prevention research grants to determine the next best steps to end gun violence.
Having already passed the Senate, the bill now goes to Governor Walz for his anticipated signature.
Video of the floor debate is available on the House Information YouTube page. The spreadsheet of complete investments for the Public Safety and Judiciary budget can be downloaded here.
Photo Cutline: House DFL Representatives wear red in support of Gun Violence Prevention Measures
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