Minnesota Right to Bear Arms Amendment (2012)
| Not on Ballot |
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Minnesota Right to Bear Arms Amendment did not make the November 2012 ballot in Minnesota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The proposed amendment would have sought to protect the right to keep and bear arms for Minnesota citizens[1]
The amendment was sponsored by State Representatives Bruce Anderson and Tom Hackbarth.[2]
Text of measure
The question to be presented to the voters was as follows:
"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that the right of a citizen to keep, bear, and use arms for the defense and security of the person, family, or home, or for lawful hunting, recreation, or marksmanship training is fundamental and shall not be infringed?"
- YES
- NO[3]
Constitutional Changes
The proposed amendment would have added Section 18 to Article I to the Minnesota Constitution.[4]
Support
Arguments
- Joseph Olson, of the Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance, said that state amendments help ensure rights for state citizens in case the United States Supreme Court takes up the issue. Citing a 2008 ruling, the court ruled that the Second Amendment protects a person's right to possess firearm for private use or in their home. Olson stated, "A 5-4 positive decision can easily become a 4-5 negative decision."[5]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Minnesota Constitution
In order to refer proposed amendments to the ballot they must be agreed on by a majority of the members of each chamber of the Minnesota State Legislature. The 2012 legislative session ended before the measure was passed on to the ballot.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota Legislature, "House File 131 (2011)" (Lines 1.2 to 1.4)
- ↑ [https://www.revisor.mn.gov/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=House&f=HF0131&ssn=0&y=2011 Minnesota Legislature, "Status of HF 131 (87th Legislative Session)
- ↑ Minnesota Legislature, "House File 131 (2011)" (Lines 1.12 to 1.18)
- ↑ Minnesota Legislature, "House File 131 (2011)" (Lines 1.6 to 1.9)
- ↑ MNDaily.com, "Gun rights: A moving target," March 9, 2011
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State of Minnesota St. Paul (capital) |
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