Iron Range Hearing On Gun Rights Highlights Political Divide

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HIBBING, Minn. (AP) — Republicans who lead the Senate have already have said they're not interested in two Democratic proposals that stalled out last session but were on Tuesday's agenda.

One would expand criminal background checks for gun transfers. The other would allow courts to temporarily take guns from people judged an immediate threat to themselves or others.

But GOP-backed proposals up for discussion include the right to carry firearms in public without a permit and expanding people's right to use deadly force to protect themselves and their homes.

Whatever action the Legislature takes or doesn't could affect the fate of the narrow Senate GOP majority in the November elections. Support for gun rights is strong on the Iron Range, which is no longer the Democratic stronghold it once was, and other parts of rural Minnesota.