COMPREHENSIVE GUN REFORM BILL CLEARS SENATE

The Minnesota Senate has passed a sweeping gun violence prevention package that includes a ban on assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines. The measure cleared the chamber on a narrow 34-33 party-line vote and now heads to the House for consideration. During the debate, DFL Senator Grant Hauschild of Hermantown spoke emotionally about discussing gun violence with his young son following a recent shooting involving family members, saying, “it’s not the way the world should be.” Republican Senator Steve Drazkowski of Mazeppa argued the proposal goes too far, warning it could criminalize otherwise law-abiding gun owners without stopping violent offenders. The House has yet to take up the bill.