DFL lawmakers renew push for background checks on private gun sales

A pair of Democratic lawmakers Thursday announced a renewed push to require background checks for nearly all private gun sales in Minnesota.

But, as in previous years, and for similar bills, this proposal might not make it far in the state Legislature — one key House Republican said he will not allow hearings for any gun-related bills this session.

In Minnesota, as in many other states, gun sales between private individuals don't require background checks.

That's in stark contrast to what's required of federally licensed gun dealers. Before they are allowed to sell a firearm, they must check a prospective buyer's background to ensure that the customer isn't prohibited by law from owning a gun.

Rep. Dan Schoen, DFL-St. Paul Park, likens the situation to airport security lines — when only one line requires travelers to go through a metal detector.

"Criminals get to choose which line they get to go through," he said. "Now which plane do you want to get on, with your kids?"

Schoen and Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, proposed a bill that would require private sellers to run background checks on potential buyers before completing a gun sale.

The lawmakers are being supported in their efforts by law enforcement officials and advocacy groups like Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Latz acknowledged that ushering the bill toward passage will be an uphill battle. This year's legislative session is shorter than usual — and it's an election year, when incumbents are less likely to make controversial decisions, if they can help it. A similar measure proposed a few years ago failed, because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats.

A lot of the pushback against earlier iterations of this most recent background check bill came from gun rights advocates like Andrew Rothman, president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance.

Rothman thinks the federal system of background checks already poses an unfair burden for lawful gun owners.

"We don't have to get licensed to have the right to speak. And so, to exercise your Second Amendment rights, that you are subject to so much surveillance and federal record keeping and fees," he said, "really doesn't make sense that the Second Amendment is treated that much differently than the First Amendment."

Rothman and other advocates gathered on the Capitol grounds Thursday to encourage lawmakers to reject this and other gun control bills.

But lawmakers may not get a chance to vote on this bill or any of the other half-dozen or so gun-related proposals introduced this session.

"Before you come to our committee with a gun control bill, you have to have at least some evidence that it's going to do some good and not just make you feel good," said Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Vernon Center, who chairs the House Public Safety Committee. "And we can't find anything in the background of these bills that would truly save lives."

He said there will be no hearings on gun bills this session.

Cornish, a staunch supporter of gun rights, said his committee also won't hold a hearing on another gun-related bill: One that is aimed at prohibiting people on the federal Terrorist Watchlist from owning firearms. The list, he said, could include people who shouldn't be on it — and could have their rights denied by mistake.

As far as he's concerned, Cornish said, the background-check bill and others are dead for this session. It's unclear if the bills' sponsors will attempt to work around his opposition.