One full month into the 2013 MInnesota Legislative Session and the DFL majorities have yet to pass or introduce a budget or address jobs and the economy.  Gay marriage, gun control, and union wage increases are their priorities.

This week was dubbed “Gun Week”  with 3 days of committee hearings taking place. I think the DFL underestimated their perceived mandate to take away gun rights from law abiding Minnesotans. During one of Wednesday’s hearings, 5 DFL members got up and walked out while a proponent of gun rights was testifying.

 

One of the main purposes of the committee hearings is to get public and expert input on proposed legislation before they reach the floor to be voted on. So you can fix them before they would become law. Given the proposed DFL rule change effectively removing the Amendment process on the floor, Committee Hearings are now even more important than ever to get Legislation done right.

Thousands and thousands of Minnesotans have shown up to voice and show their opposition to 17+ gun control laws proposed by the DFL this week. But the DFLers on the committee crafting the Legislation simply walked out.

The 5 DFL members were:

Representative Debra Hilstrom
Representative Shannon Savick
Representative Dan Schoen
Representative Erik Simonson
Representative Linda Slocum

Here is a short  clip of Republican Rep. Andrea Keiffer. In the first part she gives one example of someone using a “modern sporting rifle” in a legal matter of self defense.  In the last few seconds of the short clip she voices disappointment for those of us who saw Democrats show their disdain and disrespect for Minnesota’s gun owners during their “Gun Week”.

Cross-posted at Residual Forces - comments welcome.