No votes — again — on gun-control bills in House public safety committee

Nineteen days after first being tabled, action Tuesday makes it highly unlikely any gun-related bills are going forward during the remaining two months of this legislative session.

The House Public Safety and Security Policy and Finance Committee voted not to bring up a pair of bills sponsored by Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL-St. Paul) for discussion and possible vote.

That led to red- and orange-shirted bill supporters angrily filing out of the hearing room, with some yelling various comments toward committee members, including “Chicken” and “How do you people sleep at night?” Eventually a chant of “Vote Them Out” began.

As the chant grew louder, the meeting was adjourned as Rep. Jack Considine Jr. (DFL-Mankato) had been recognized to speak. With the gavel pounded, he flicked up his microphone and stared at those shouting.

The motion to remove a bill from the table is non-debatable.

Rejected on a 10-6 party-line vote, HF1605 would permit law enforcement and family members to petition a court to prohibit someone from possessing a firearm for between six months and two years if they pose a “significant danger” to themselves or others.

WATCH The committee votes on Pinto's motions to remove the bills from the table for a vote

The other, HF1669, would require a buyer background check for almost every transfer of a firearm in the state, including those among private parties. Some exceptions would be provided, such as an exchange between immediate family members. The request to remove from the table was defeated 9-7, with Rep. Keith Franke (R-St. Paul Park) joining DFL members.

“We can do more to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people and, at the same time, uphold the rights of those many responsible gun owners,” Pinto said.

Rep. Brian Johnson (R-Cambridge), the committee chair, said after the hearing no gun control bills would make it out of the committee in 2018. He added the bills had already been heard.

He also asserted what’s called for in the bills would not have prevented the Feb. 14 high-school shooting in Parkland, Fla. Recent reports indicate non-firearm-related steps were missed that may have prevented the teenage shooter from committing his deadly assault. Johnson would rather focus on those areas, such as mental health, rather than the weapon used.

Either way, the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has boosted momentum for people seeking to change state gun laws.

“Our children are begging us to find the courage to take common-sense actions that will reduce gun violence, and the Republican majority’s refusal to let these bills stand for a vote is extremely disappointing,” Pinto said in a statement after the hearing. “These two measures would help to keep guns away from people who have shown themselves to be dangerous. Both are already in use in other states and have broad public support, and bipartisan support in the Minnesota House and Senate.”

The companions, SF1262 and SF1261, await action by the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park) sponsors both.