Committee lays over Capitol weapons ban after heated debate and tied votes
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Summary
HF33‑57, a bill to ban most firearms on the Minnesota State Capitol complex with exceptions for protective professionals, drew emotional testimony about threats to legislators and concerns about restricting law‑abiding permit holders; the committee’s roll call was 6–7 and the measure was laid over.
Representative Curran introduced House File 33‑57 to prohibit weapons on Capitol grounds except for professional protective officers. Testifier Anna Limi, director of government relations for a gun owners caucus, opposed the bill and argued the Capitol Complex "is the seat of democratic participation" and that the proposal would strip vetted permit holders of the ability to exercise self‑defense where they come to petition government.
Representative Bonner and other members described the psychological impact and security concerns following recent violent incidents, saying the presence of guns in legislative spaces is "an immense weight to bear." Bonner told the committee "My very first threat of violence in this body came before I ever stepped foot on the house floor."
Opponents argued the bill would create a patchwork of protections and take away defensive options for staff, members and visitors who use on‑site parking and transit; proponents pushed back that the measure targets safety inside the Capitol. The committee debated implementation details, parity with other states, and whether existing metal‑detector screening and permit restrictions were sufficient.
After extended remarks and a requested roll call, the motion did not prevail with 6 ayes, 7 nays and the bill was laid over for possible future consideration rather than advanced out of committee.
The record reflects strong emotions and policy disagreement about balancing access and safety at the Capitol complex; members sought more detailed implementation language and cost estimates before moving forward.