State Representative Paul Novotnywarns House Democrats have buried two controversial gun-control bills inside a 312-page public safety funding bill. The Republican from Elk River says the strategy is that maybe some lawmakers will vote for the whole package even though they don’t like part of it:
“It’s a big collection of bills, and then you have to weigh out, are the bad bills worse than the good bills.”
One controversial measure is a so-called “red flag” law that goes beyond current statute in allowing a court to take firearms away from a person judged a risk to themselves or others. The other measure would require all firearms sales go through a licensed dealer and records be kept for 20 years:
“These are bills that people should have an answer on how their representatives voted…– a clear-cut, clean vote, up-or-down on these bills.”
Backers of the measures aren’t immediately available to comment.