New MN firearm straw purchase law: What you need to know
Gov. Walz on new straw purchase law [RAW]
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and public safety officials held a press conference on a new law that aims to curb the ability of people to acquire guns illegally. He also addressed some comments about him being on the short-list to be Kamala Harris' pick for vice president.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and public safety officials held a press conference on a new law that aims to curb the ability of people to acquire guns illegally.
Watch the full press conference above.
What does the new law do?
Looking to curb the ability for people to acquire guns illegally, the penalty for a straw purchase will increase from a gross misdemeanor to a felony.
A "straw purchase" occurs when an individual buys a firearm for someone ineligible to purchase or possess it.
READ MORE: New laws going into effect in MN in August: List
Within the law change, a defense is provided for someone who can show that the transfer was made due to "reasonable apprehension… that refusal would result in inflicting substantial bodily harm or death on the defendant, or a family member of the defendant."
The increased penalty follows the deadly shooting of three first responders in Burnsville earlier in the year – the perpetrator of which had a cache of guns acquired via straw purchases, authorities later learned.