Dear Neighbors,
On Thursday, House Democrats voted on and approved legislation that seriously infringes on the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners.
House File 8 establishes new regulations on the transfer of pistols and semi-automatic rifles. These strict new hurdles and barriers will harm law-abiding Minnesotans seeking to exercise their Second Amendment rights and will do little to stop criminals who don't already follow the law and have no intention of doing so.
These new burdens for what used to be very routine transfers between friends and family could inadvertently turn many law-abiding folks into criminals if they don't follow the exact processes laid out in the bill.
The second bill, House File 9, establishes a “red-flag” process that would allow an individual to file a petition with the courts if someone believes you are a risk to self or others and can have your firearms seized by law enforcement.
Issues with this legislation are two-fold.
First, it has serious implications related to the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. Second, it infringes on every American’s right to due process.
The court process laid out in the bill would allow for an ex-parte hearing. This means that the hearing and order would be handed down before an individual can defend themselves in a court of law or request a hearing to contest the order. This effectively treats people as guilty until proven innocent, which goes against the principles of our legal system.
Seizure of property without a warrant is a violation of an individual’s civil rights and there is no other constitutional right that is treated with as much disregard as the 2nd Amendment.
I was proud to vote “no” on both these bills and will always stand up to defend the 2nd Amendment and your right to due process.
Insulin Affordability
On Wednesday, House Democrats brought legislation to establish an emergency insulin program. While I support making sure that folks have access to insulin for those in emergency situations or are struggling to afford medication, the Democrat plan is not the way to do this.
Last session, Democrats voted to raise taxes on health care by $2 billion over the next four years—there’s no need for another $114 million tax hike, as this bill would do.
There are numerous existing options for folks to utilize if they are in need.
Health insurers on the individual market announced this summer that they would cap the costs of insulin at $25 or less for a month’s supply. These changes were for all the insurers’ full plans, both on the individual market and in the small group market.
In addition to those options, each of the three major insulin manufacturers provides programs that offer free or reduced-cost insulin to individuals that struggle to afford the product.
Minnesota’s public health care programs, Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare offer incredibly generous insulin coverage, usually providing the products for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
Finally, there are numerous free discount programs offered by companies like GoodRx, InsideRX, and Blink Health.
If you or someone you know struggle to afford or access insulin, please contact your doctor to discuss options available for you.
Staying in Touch
Please be sure to reach out to me to share any thoughts, questions, or concerns you have related to state government. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-8237 or via email at rep.brian.daniels@house.mn.
Have a great weekend,
Brian