House Dems add gun control measures to public safety funding bill over Republicans heated objections

Another hours-long debate on gun control in a Minnesota House committee Thursday night as Democrats, over Republicans’ heated objections, put background checks and a so-called “red flag” measure into a larger public safety funding bill. Cambridge Republican Brian Johnson says if gun control is Democrats’ priority, they should have a floor vote on a stand-alone bill. “One of the top 10 priorities, can’t bring it to the floor, gotta stick it in an omnibus bill,” Johnson says. Richfield Democrat Mike Howard responds on gun violence the Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate is “doing nothing. And this is our best path to move on a priority, not just for the House but for Minnesotans — for nine in 10 Minnesotans, for Minnesotans all across the state.”