Minnesota hunters and shooters would be allowed to transport uncased and unloaded rifles and shotguns in their vehicles under a bill introduced in the Legislature.
Under current law, the only time firearms can be transported uncased and unloaded is in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle.
"We think we can reduce [firearms-related] accidents and reduce conflicts between conservation officers and hunters," said Rep. David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, who co-authored the bill along with Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder.
Dill said he doesn't believe loosening the law will result in more firearms-related accidents, or encourage illegal shooting from roadways or poaching. "Our bill would not allow any ammunition in the chamber or magazine," he said.
The existing law, he said, is a headache for gun owners and conservation officers alike. He said hunters now can be cited for technicalities, like not fully fastening their guns cases. And casing a gun every time a hunter moves from field to field to hunt is a hassle, he said.
Cornish, a former Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officer, agrees with Dill.
"It's a burdensome regulation that I don't think saves lives or helps hunting ethics," he said.
The DNR opposes the bill, noting that states that don't require cased firearms have significantly higher firearms-related accident rates.
