Assault Weapon, Magazine Ban Out Of Picture

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota apparently won't pass any laws to ban assault rifles or high-capacity ammunition magazines this year.

Rep. Michael Paymar, a St. Paul Democrat, unveiled Thursday his bill to reduce gun violence. The bill would require background checks on all gun purchases, increase penalties for people who buy weapons for those who legally cannot and help attorneys crack down on illegal gun owners.

Dennis Flaherty of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association says the bill is the most important public safety bill of the session.

Paymar hosted three days of emotional hearings on almost a dozen different gun-related bills in early February. He says it was clear that the assault weapons and magazine bans wouldn't pass.

Republicans say that Paymar's bill still won't have the votes to become law.

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