Hundreds Demonstrate At Capitol As Gun Control Bills Discussed

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Over the past weeks, we have seen marches and rallies pushing for gun law reform, but no real change. That changed Thursday as legislators heard more about two gun control bills.

The two bills aimed at reducing gun violence went before a House Committee in Saint Paul on Thursday morning.

Both authored by DFL House Representative Dave Pinto, the two pieces of legislation went before the Public Safety and Security Committee at 10:15 a.m.

One bill would expand background checks to include every gun sold or transferred in Minnesota.

The other would allow family members to curb people from getting their hands on a gun temporarily if they pose a significant danger to themselves or others.

Before noon, WCCO's Mary McGuire learned that the committed had already tabled the first of those two bills, meaning they would not vote on it. McGuire reported that as a procedural way to kill the legislation.

As the bills were discussed by the committee, hundreds of demonstrators arrived to protest at the State Capitol.

Many of the signs included messages such as "Gun control is just common sense," and "Kids > NRA."