February 29, 2024
A pair of bills aimed at reducing firearm-related death and injury, were heard on February 29, in a joint House hearing of the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, and the Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee.
HF4300 (Becker-Finn, DFL – Roseville), also known as the “Safe Storage” bill, requires that firearms be secured with a locking device, unloaded, and kept separately from ammunition. HF601 (Her, DFL – St. Paul) would require that lost or stolen firearms be reported promptly to law enforcement.
The MMA has long supported firearm safety legislation to reduce rates of death and injury by firearms. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., surpassing motor vehicle deaths and those caused by other injuries in 2020. According to that same data, suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults (ages 15-24 years) and the second leading cause of death among younger adolescents (ages 10-14 years). On average, 22 children and young adults die each day from firearm injuries. Many of these are accidental death or injury due to unsecured firearms.
Research shows that adolescents are at an increased risk of death by firearm. Research in the Journal of Pediatrics found that safe storage laws can reduce the risk of suicide among adolescents by making it more difficult for young people to access firearms. In addition to protecting children and teens, safe storage laws can also help to reduce theft and the illegal use of firearms.
In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed significant firearm safety legislation including universal background checks for firearm exchanges and the authorization of extreme risk protection orders, otherwise known as “red flag” laws. Safe storage requirements and mandatory reporting of lost or stolen firearms received committee hearings last session but failed to pass in the Minnesota Senate.
HF4300 and HF601 were re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
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