A Minnesota House committee is advancing a bill requiring “uniform criminal background checks” on firearms purchases following an emotional, five-hour debate. The DFL-backed gun safety legislation passed on a 9-7 party line vote and is now headed to the House Ways and Means Committee. The hearing ended just after midnight this (Thursday) morning without a vote on the so-called “red flag” bill. Chairman Carlos Mariani of St. Paul tabled that measure and the committee will be considering it at a meeting this at 12:45 afternoon. That legislation allows family members or law enforcement to petition for an “extreme risk protection order” that would remove firearms from someone posing a threat to themselves or others. Republican leaders say both bills have no chance of passing the Minnesota Senate.