media release - ortman - gun crime enforcement proposal - sf 1359 (2013)

7/29/2019 Media Release - Ortman - Gun Crime Enforcement Proposal - SF 1359 (2013)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MEDIA CONTACT: PETER FJELSTAD, (651) 296-4837

Serving Carver County

Office: 119 State Office Bldg., Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

State Senator Julianne Ortman Introduces Bill to Protect Gun-Owners’ Rights

and Target Gun Crime

(St. Paul, MN) - On Wednesday, March 13, State Senator Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) and a

bipartisan group of over 20 co-authors introduced the Gun Crime Enforcement Proposal (SF 1359).

This bill has been introduced in conjunction with companion House bills.

In introducing the bill, Senator Ortman stated, “This bill contains a variety of initiatives intended tokeep firearms out of the hands of individuals who are already legally prohibited from possessing

firearms--by targeting instances of gun crime and assisting law enforcement and prosecutors in

enforcing current restrictions.”

“It‟s a crime for a convicted felon to possess a gun; it‟s also a crime for someone to lie on a gun

permit application, or to buy a gun illegally. That‟s current federal law and state law,” said Ortman. We need to make sure our county attorneys and local law enforcement in Minnesota have all the

tools they need under state law to ensure that individuals who are already prohibited by federal law

from owning or buying a gun know that we will hold them accountable for their criminal behavior.The Gun Crime Enforcement Proposal includes several important elements, and by supporting it, we

protect both the rights and the lives of law-abiding citizens.”

Below is a brief overview of the Gun Crime Enforcement Proposal 2013 (SF 1359):

Cracks Down on Straw Purchases

Prohibits individuals from knowingly encouraging private sellers or licensed dealers totransfer firearms or ammunition under circumstances that the person knows would violate

state or federal laws.

Prohibits individuals from knowingly providing materially false information with the intentto deceive a licensed dealer or seller about the legality of a transfer of a firearm or

ammunition.

Penalizes an individual that procures another to commit the illegal transfer as a principal.

Improves State and Federal Background Check System

Accelerates the time periods for sharing criminal data and information on individuals

ineligible to possess firearms based on criminal convictions and disqualifications, and mentalhealth adjudications and commitments – essentially ensuring that background check

databases have the most current and accurate information available.

Requires reporting of the duration of firearm prohibitions in order to remove individuals whoare no longer prohibited.



Improves Reporting of Court-Determined Mental Health Disqualification and Creates a

Process for Restoration of Rights

People who have been placed under certain types of mental health-related orders are bannedby federal law from possessing firearms.

The provisions in this legislation would implement requirements set forth in the federal NICSImprovement Amendments Act (NIAA) of 2007, and allow persons who have lost their

firearm rights because of a mental health commitment or adjudication the right to petition to

have them restored.

Strengthens Penalties on Felons and Repeat Criminal Offenders

Prohibits felons from possessing ammunition -- mirroring the federal prohibition on felonspossessing ammunition

Creates mandatory minimums for violent felons that are convicted of possessing firearms ona second or subsequent offense

Provides felony penalties for individuals that engage in repeated knowingly false reports of lost or stolen firearms

Provides felony penalties for individuals that intentionally transfer a firearm to an ineligible

person they know intends to use the weapon in the furtherance of a felony crime of violence.

This bill contains no new restrictions on gun purchases or gun ownership. It has no impact on law

abiding citizens. More specifically, this bill does not require universal background checks on gunpurchases.

Some strong supporters have recently emerged in favor of the Gun Crime Enforcement Proposal (SF1359):

Sheriff Jim Olson, Sheriff of Carver County

“This proposed bipartisan legislation will provide me with accurate and up to date

information that I need before issuing a gun permit. It imposes harsh penalties on strawbuyers who intentionally buy guns for those that should not have them. Criminals and those

that have been committed, „mentally ill and dangerous‟ should not be able to purchase guns.”

Chris Rager, Spokeman for the National Rifle Association,

“The NRA supports Senator Ortman's Senate File 1359 because it offers real solutions toaddress problems of violent crime in Minnesota. Instead of infringing on the rights of law-

abiding and responsible gun owners, SF 1359 seeks to crack down on straw purchasers,strengthen penalties for felons and repeat offenders, and improve the background check

system. NRA applauds Senator Ortman and the dozens of bipartisan coauthors for protecting

and respecting the Second Amendment and getting tough on crime.”

Andrew Rothman, Vice President of the Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance,

“Senator Ortman's bill, first and foremost, protects and respects the rights of law-abiding gunowners, while focusing on the real problems: identifying violent criminals and the

dangerously mentally ill who slip through the cracks of our existing background check systems, and keeping violent criminals behind bars where they belong. The Gun Owners

Civil Rights Alliance, Minnesota's Second Amendment defender for the last quarter century,

is proud to stand with Senator Ortman, her bipartisan co-authors, and the Minnesota SheriffsAssociation in support of this bill.”



Kevin Vick, owner of gun stores Crucible Arms in Lakeville and Cabin Fever in Victoria,

“As a licensed firearms dealer, I never want to sell a gun to an unstable or criminalindividual. Too often, though, those people's records have slipped through the cracks. That's

what happened with Seung-Hui Cho, the Virginia Tech murderer, as well as ChristianOberender, a local convicted felon, both of whom were able to buy guns because the state

record-keeping is so lax. Senator Ortman's bill would seal those cracks, giving me and all

Federal Firearm License dealers the information we need to make sure we're selling only tolaw-abiding Minnesotans."

Bill McDonald, owner of Wings of Watertown, a small family owned and operated pheasant

hunting preserve,

“Over the course of the past four years I have had the privilege of meeting hundreds of wonderful people; many of them have been business owners and their clients, some have

been fathers and sons, and others have been people just getting into the outdoor pursuits.

And, in more than one case, the topic of firearms (and gun control) has come up duringconversation. Quite honestly, I do not recall any of my customers supporting gun control;

they support criminal control.”

Senator Ortman‟s bill, the Gun Crime Enforcement Proposal has wide support from members of the

Senate Republican Caucus including the following co-authors:

Minority Leader David Hann, Senator Warren Limmer, Senator David Osmek, Senator DaveThompson, Senator Jeremy Miller, Senator Julie Rosen, Senator David Brown, SenatorBranden Petersen, Senator Dan Hall, Senator David Senjem, Senator Roger Chamberlain,

Senator Mary Kiffmeyer, Senator Bill Weber, Senator Eric Pratt, Senator Michelle Benson,

and Senator Paul Gazelka.

The Gun Crime Enforcement Proposal also has obtained the support of a number of DFL co-authors:

Senator Lyle Koenen, Senator Kent Eken, Senator Dan Sparks, Senator Tom Saxhaug, andSenator LeRoy Stumpf.

In the Minnesota House of Representatives, State Representative Debra Hilstrom (DFL-Brooklyn

Center) is the Chief Author. Every member of the House Republican Caucus is a co-author on theGun Crime Enforcement Proposal, as are a number of DFL House members.

Both State Representative Ernie Leidiger (R-Mayer) and State Representative Joe Hoppe (R-Chaska)are co-authors on the House version of this bill.

The Gun Crime Enforcement Proposal has earned the support of the National Rifle Association, the

Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance, and the Minnesota Sheriffs‟ Association.

media release - ortman - gun crime enforcement proposal - sf 1359 (2013)

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