Democrats in Minnesota Senate hold firm to pass contentious gun control measures

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Democratic Minnesota senators held firm despite only a one-vote majority to pass gun control legislation strongly supported by the governor.

The bill passed 34-33 on a party-line vote late Friday after around nine hours of debate. It would align the battleground state with others nationally that have taken steps to keep guns out of the hands of people in crisis and criminals.

The proposals include a “red flag law” that would allow authorities to ask courts for “extreme risk protection orders” to temporarily take guns away from people deemed to be an imminent threat to others or themselves. The bill also contains expanded background checks for gun transfers.