ST. PAUL, Minn. - Gun control supporters are planning to gather outside Minnesota's House chamber to express disappointment that bills to expand background checks for gun purchases are shelved for the year at the Capitol.
The Minnesota Gun Violence Prevention Coalition plans a Friday demonstration two days after House Speaker Paul Thissen decided no gun bills will get votes in the 2013 session. The Minneapolis Democrat says there's not enough votes because of opposition among rural DFLers to new hurdles to gun purchases.
Gun control activist Heather Martens says background checks are widely supported. She charges they are being blocked by "out-of-touch legislators." She says gun control supporters willingly abandoned harsher measures such as gun or ammunition bans but that gun control opponents have not shown similar flexibility.
Thissen said he hopes gun control supporters renew their push next year.
