Gun safety advocates are pushing for the passage of a proposal that would require firearm owners to report the theft of a gun within 48 hours of realizing the weapon has gone missing.
Surprisingly, only 15 states require gun owners to report that a firearm has been stolen. Federally licensed firearms dealers must report lost or stolen inventory within 48 hours of realizing that firearms have gone missing, and advocates from Protect Minnesota hope that the new proposal can hold citizens to the same standard. Between 2017 and 2021, more than one million firearms were stolen nationwide, and most were stolen in states where people are not required to report the theft of a weapon. Gun safety advocates in Minnesota say the proposal can help to curb straw purchases and make it easier for law enforcement to build cases against involved parties once a stolen firearm has been recovered.
“Without a reporting law, straw purchasers can simply claim that a gun that they bought and gave to a prohibited person was lost or taken in an unreported theft,” said Rep. Kaohly Vang Her, DFL-St. Paul. “This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. We all know that gun violence is on the rise and that we want to put sensible gun violence prevention measures into place.
Opponents Question Proposal’s Effectiveness
Those who are against the measure or indifferent about the proposal question its effectiveness, as they say that responsible gun owners already report lost or stolen weapons in a timely fashion.
“Telling responsible gun owners that they have to do something that they’re already doing isn’t going to change the landscape as far as stopping the people who are worried about getting guns from getting guns,” said Rob Doar, senior vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus.
The two sides have differing opinions on another proposal in regards to gun safety. A second bill would require firearms to be stored unloaded in a locked location, separate from ammunition. Doar says the proposal who essentially render home defense meaningless, as it would be too difficult to get to and prepare a firearm in the event of an emergency or home invasion.
We see both sides of these arguments, and we’ll be watching closely to see if either of these measures make it to the governor’s desk. Gun violence has certainly been a hot topic of late, and we hope that lawmakers and citizens find ways to help make our community a little safer.
In the meantime, if you need assistance defending yourself against a weapons charge or another criminal matter, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
