Minn. House passes gun restrictions for abusers

The Minnesota House on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to let judges demand that people served with domestic abuse protection orders surrender their guns.

An accused abuser would have to transfer firearms temporarily to a law enforcement agency, a federally licensed gun dealer or an eligible third party on a judge's order under the bill that passed 111-to-15.

The bipartisan vote marked a rare instance where lawmakers appeared ready to tighten gun regulations.

Victim advocates and gun rights supporters agreed the bill would help keep people safe by removing guns from volatile domestic situations while providing constitutional protections for gun owners accused of domestic violence.

"Parties do have due process. They do have to stand in front of a judge and they do get the ability to argue their side of the story," said bill sponsor, Rep. Dan Schoen, a Democrat and police officer in St. Paul Park. "It is a court action."

The Senate version of the bill awaits action on that chamber's floor.