SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Today, the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee heard Representative Samakab Hussein (DFL-Saint Paul) present his bill to enable local governmental units around the state to restrict, or if they see fit, prohibit the possession of dangerous weapons in public lands and public buildings.
“Gun violence continues to devastate communities across the country and in Minnesota, claiming innocent lives and leaving countless others forever scarred,” said Representative Hussein. “Local laws serve the important purpose of addressing the unique issues and dangers facing each community. By empowering local governments, communities can craft targeted solutions that keep their residents safe while respecting Second Amendment rights. While extremist Republicans are worried about banning books in libraries, we are banning guns. And at public recreation centers, our youth deserve the dignified right to engage in sports with their peers and friends, not be harassed and harmed by gun violence.”
The United States stands out starkly when compared to other developed nations. It has the highest firearm homicide rate, with a staggering 4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019. Multiple studies point to a clear link: easier access to guns translates to higher firearm-related homicides. This reality is further underscored by the unique situation in the US – we are the only nation in the world where civilians own more guns than there are people.
Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter provided his support of the bill.
“Our libraries and recreation centers must be safe havens for children to learn, play, and grow,” said Mayor Carter. “We’ll stop at nothing to keep them that way.”
Representative Maria Isa Perez-Vega (DFL-Saint Paul), representative of District 66B, is a co-author of the bill.
“Gun violence is a national epidemic and unfortunately, Minnesota is not immune to this cancerous catastrophe. We have communities around our state that are still grieving and traumatized by preventable loss of their loved one,” said Representative Perez-Vega “We have a responsibility to our constituents who have boldly vocalized their demand for gun violence prevention measures, and as their elected officials, we are no longer talking about solutions, we are taking legislative action. This bill is an essential common-sense gun law that can save lives.”
Ramsey County Commissioner Rena Moran provided testimony in favor of the bill.
“Guns are not currently permitted in our schools, but when the school day ends and our kids disperse to activities in our community, that protection ends,” said Commissioner Moran “By giving local governments the ability to decide if they wish to ban weapons in their facilities, we give each community the opportunity to have a conversation about when and where guns are appropriate in the lives of our children and our community.”
The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future committee bill.
Additional information and documents from the hearing are available on the committee webpage.
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