Democrats and Republicans line up to support making straw gun purchase a state felony

Lawmakers see urgency around the issue after the killings of Burnsville police and paramedic

Mar 22, 20240

Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune count

Two police officers and a fire department medic were shot and killed in Burnsville on Feb. 18, adding urgency to the legislative debate over gun purchases.

The killing of two police officers and a paramedic in Burnsville last month has made "straw purchases" of firearms a critical issue for Minnesota lawmakers of both parties.

Rep. Kaela Berg, DFL-Burnsville, said she wanted to craft a bill to address the specific circumstances of those shootings. The gunman was not legally allowed to own firearms, and federal prosecutors said in an indictment that his girlfriend purchased the weapons.

"The AR-15-style weapons that were used against the first responders should not have been in the possession of the assailant," Berg said.

https://www.startribune.com/democrats-and-republicans-line-up-to-support-making-straw-gun-purchase-a-state-felony/600353134/