A top Democrat is warning fellow lawmakers about two bills introduced at the legislature this week — one encouraging private gun sales to go through background checks and the other tightening regulations on gun access for those convicted of domestic assault. Saint Louis Park Senator Ron Latz says, “Don’t let those become fig leaves for action, when they will accomplish next to nothing in terms of preventing gun violence in our state.”
Republican Representative Jenifer Loon from Eden Prairie says her bill dealing with domestic violence is “an honest attempt to try to do something.” Some Democrats, including Governor Mark Dayton, are pushing for universal background checks but Republican leaders say it doesn’t have sufficient support.