Republican state senator no longer supports gun control bill
In a statement to Alpha News, Sen. Housley clarified the reasons behind her initial co-authorship of the bill, and her eventual change of heart.
Minnesota Sen. Karin Housley, R-Stillwater, removed her name from a gun control bill brought forward by several Democrats in the Minnesota Legislature. Signing on to the legislation at the end of February, Sen. Housley is no longer listed as a co-author of SF 4312.
Authored by Sen. Heather Gustafson, D-Vadnais Heights, SF 4312 would set new laws for how firearms must be stored. Under the proposed law, gun owners must either leave their firearms unloaded with a locking device or store them in a legitimate “firearm storage unit” such as a safe when not being used. The law would apply when a firearm is not in the “direct physical control or reach” of its owner.
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In a statement to Alpha News, Sen. Housley clarified the reasons behind her initial co-authorship of the bill, and her eventual change of heart.
“I’m committed to developing common sense solutions that preserve personal freedoms and liberty, while keeping kids and families safe and making sure guns are not accessible to violent criminals,” said Sen. Housley. “My initial decision to be a co-author on this bill was based on the concerns of many of those in my district. Unfortunately, this specific piece of legislation is still in need of a lot of work and consideration, and I cannot support it in its current form. This is a sensitive issue for many, and I value all of the feedback I have received.”