North Hennepin News

The Minnesota Judiciary and Public Safety Committee held a hearing Jan. 21 in Hibbing to get the public’s feedback and hear concerns about a wide range of gun-related issues.

Sen. Warren Limmer (R-34) provided a recap of the hearing in a video posted on his Facebook page Feb. 4. The committee, the first to come to Hibbing for input from citizens, heard about a variety of topics, from constitutional carry to stand-your-ground laws, universal background checks and red flag laws.

They also learned, Limmer said, that the courts are not exerting the full sentence on those who use a gun in the commission of a crime.

“We are appalled that judges are not fully executing a sentence that the legislature mandated when someone uses a gun to commit a crime,” Limmer said in the video.

He also said that there are two aims to punishment: take the perpetrator out of society so they can’t do it again, and to teach society a lesson.

"If they do that same crime, they get that same punishment,” Limmer said.