I guess they aren’t willing to just let HF953 “The Gun Registration Bill” die.  Paymar started with an email yesterday and now today more have been coming.

—– Original Message —–

The gun control folk are blasting out this email from their constituencies. I’ve received over 20 in the last 90 minutes.

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>>> Jennifer Schara <@bitlaw.com> 3/10/2009 10:47 AM >>>
I am writing today to urge you to support H.F. 953/S.F. 1165, which would finally close the loophole in Minnesota law that provides a legal way for people disqualified from owning a pistol or assault weapon to buy one, no questions asked. [Not so, see 624.7141] This bill deserves a hearing.

The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association supports H.F. 953/S.F. 1165. [Not according to MCPA staff.] Recent news reports have shown that Mexican drug cartels are getting high-powered firearms [5.56, 7.62x39 ???]from the loosely-regulated American market — including unlicensed sellers — and using them to assassinate police officials. [Mexican authorities refuse to disclose serial numbers so can't verify this claim.] It is naive to think this can’t happen here, where gangs have easy access to pistols and assault weapons through legal avenues. [And even EASIER access through their local drug dealer.]

I urge you to support H.F. 953/S.F. 1165. We know that Twin Cities gangs have received trafficked guns from private sales in Pillager, MN [one] ; that the Hennepin County Government Center shooter got her gun at a gun show with no background check required [one]; and that in-state Internet sales of pistols and assault weapons are occurring with no background checks [How do they "know"?].

H.F. 953 is not gun registration [DPS can order records kept forever.], and no qualified person would be denied the ability to buy a gun because of this bill.

H.F. 953 would require anyone buying a pistol or assault weapon to pass a background check, not just those individuals who purchase through a federally licensed dealer. A report from the ATF found that the second leading source of weapons recovered in illegal gun trafficking investigations were gun shows, and that 22,500 guns in one 17-month period were trafficked through unlicensed sellers [Average number of guns involved in a single investigation was 130. These were NOT private sales between friends].

Please [swallow our lies and] stand up for our police and for public safety by supporting HF 953.