People who buy pistols or assault weapons from individuals or at gun shows would need to go through a licensed dealer and pass background checks under a proposal with bipartisan support at the state Legislature.
State law now requires background checks when a gun is bought from sporting goods stores or other federally licensed dealers, but exempts gun sales involving unlicensed brokers, proponents of the bill said. They estimate that 40 percent of sales involve buyers whose backgrounds are not checked.
Advocates of tougher gun control announced their bill at a news conference Thursday where they played radio commercials scheduled to air in March. The ads warn that released felons can obtain guns with "no ID ... no background check, no questions asked."
The legislation is sponsored by Rep. Michael Paymar, DFL-St. Paul, and Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon, DFL-Duluth. It also has been co-sponsored by Rep. Ron Erhardt, R-Edina, and Rep. Neil Peterson, R-Bloomington.
The bill would prohibit private sales of pistols or assault weapons unless the buyer or seller was a federally licensed dealer, or used a licensed dealer to transfer the weapon. That includes sales at garage and estate sales and over the Internet, which are currently exempt from background checks.
PAT DOYLE
