We have received word that the Republican leadership in the Minnesota Senate has decided to kill The Defense of Dwelling and Person Act by not bringing it to the Senate floor for a vote. The Senate leadership did not sacrifice SF 1357 for other priorities. They made a deliberate, political decision to refuse to put the bill on Governor Dayton’s desk. The Senate leadership was not forced into this retreat by the DFL or anti-gun groups. They decided, unilaterally, to give up on this important civil rights legislation. The Senate leadership did not run out of time. The Senate doesn’t have to finish before Monday at midnight. They could still hear the bill if the leadership does their job. Please call and email the Senate leadership NOW, and respectfully demand that the bill get an immediate hearing. You might also want to email and call your own senator, especially if he/she is a Republican, with the same message. Tell them that Minnesota gun owners vote — and that they have very long memories. Here is the Senate leadership: Majority Leader Amy Koch (651) 296-5981 sen.amy.koch@senate.mn Deputy Majority Leader Geoff Michel (651) 296-6238 sen.geoff.michel@senate.mn Assistant Majority Leader David Hann (651) 296-1749 http://www.senate.mn/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1016 You might want to mention to Senator Hann that forcing correspondents to use a web form is NOT very convenient or service-oriented) Assistant Majority Leader Doug Magnus (651) 296-5650 sen.doug.magnus@senate.mn Assistant Majority Leader David Senjem (651) 296-3903 sen.david.senjem@senate.mn Assistant Majority Leader Dave Thompson (651) 296-5252 sen.dave.thompson@senate.mn Majority Whip Chris Gerlach (651) 296-4120 sen.chris.gerlach@senate.mn President of the Senate Michelle Fischbach (651) 296-2084 sen.michelle.fischbach@senate.mn President Pro Tem Gen Olson (651) 296-1282 sen.gen.olson@senate.mn All at once (except for Hann): sen.amy.koch@senate.mn, sen.geoff.michel@senate.mn, sen.doug.magnus@senate.mn, sen.david.senjem@senate.mn, sen.dave.thompson@senate.mn, sen.chris.gerlach@senate.mn, sen.michelle.fischbach@senate.mn, sen.gen.olson@senate.mn Or with semicolons (except for Hann): sen.amy.koch@senate.mn; sen.geoff.michel@senate.mn; sen.doug.magnus@senate.mn; sen.david.senjem@senate.mn; sen.dave.thompson@senate.mn; sen.chris.gerlach@senate.mn; sen.michelle.fischbach@senate.mn; sen.gen.olson@senate.mn

Just a quick update:

The Defense of Dwelling and Person Act of 2011 will be heard in the Minnesota Senate today — probably in the late afternoon. This should be the last step before the bill goes to Governor Dayton.

If you haven’t called and emailed your senator in support of the bill, now would be an excellent time.

Please keep an eye out for more update messages this evening, and this weekend. We will probably ask for your help in one more big push this weekend.