February 19, 2013 
State Senator Julianne Ortman has removed herself as an author on DFL State Senator Ron Latz’s S.F. 235 that would change the definition of “crimes of violence” to include additional domestic violence offenses as well as the illegal possession of a firearm, essentially increasing the penalties for illegal possession of a firearm and making it illegal for those convicted of those domestic violence crimes to own firearms. Sources close to Ortman indicate that there were disagreements regarding how the bill would be handled in committee and on the Senate floor.
Ortman is expected to introduce her own bill with similar goals soon.
I knew this was coming, but thought I’d wait for the annoucement to comment. There are parts of the bill that, yes, the NRA was behind, but there are additional aspects that were distasteful. Senator Ortman’s version, I guessing will stick to those aspects that match NRA recommendations, and apply to the issues we’d recently faced in our county, on her turf. I’m betting we will see a more common sense bill come from the new proposal. This will make many on both sides of the aisle happier with a more measured, common-sense outcome.
Any bets on whether any DFL’ers sign on to her bill? I mean if it’s good legislation, some should, right? Let’s see how partisan it gets with the shoe on the other foot, shall we?
No takers, huh. Seems when it comes to parisanship, we have a hard time looking in the mirror, eh DFL’ers?
I’m not sure if S.F. 646 is meant to be her replacement for S.F. 235, but if it is, it’s got two DFL co-authors. Seems like a good bill to me, although I think there are elements of 235 that should still be included.
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0646&ssn=0&y=2013
I don’t see anything about guns in this bill, so I’m guessing this isn’t the replacement to 235.
The part about transmitting data to the background check system would complement elements of 235.
Sounds like GOCRA didn’t have any objections to 235 in committee today.
It’s funny that you have to make a law to tell government agencies to be more efficient. No wonder government spends so much money. This bill shows why government is so disfunctional. I wonder if there is a bill to tell government employees the proper procedures for taking a dump.