>> Eric: NOT SURPRISINGLY THERE WERE FINES AND SUSPENSIONS AFTER THE MATCH.

CRIME WAS A TOP ISSUE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND LAWMAKERS ARE BEGINNING TO LOOK AT SOLUTIONS.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER IS BACK TO SHOW US HOW THE LEGISLATURE IS ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY SO FAR THIS SESSION.

>> Mary: CRIME IS UP AND RIDERSHIP IS DOWN ON METRO TRANSIT.

LAWMAKERS ARE LISTENING.

>> TRANSIT SAFETY AND COMFORT OF RIDE IS SPECIFICALLY AS WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE ON BLUE LINE AND GREEN LINE HAS DEVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY POST-COVID.

IT IS NECESSARY THE LEGISLATURE TAKES ACTION.

>> Mary: FEDERAL DATA SHOWS TWICE LIGHT RAIL IS SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS IN THE COUNTRY BASED OWNED NUMBER OF PERSONAL SECURITY EVENT REPORTED TO OFFICIALS.

>> I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY THE CORRECT APPROACH, REACHING OUT MORE TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND GETTING HOMELESS, YOU KNOW, TO SHELTERS AND LOOKING AT LOSS WITH DRUG ADDICTION GETTING THEM THE SERVICES THEY NEED, BUT THEY CAN'T BE DOING THAT STUFF ON THE SYSTEM.

IT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYBODY.

>> THE OPIOID CRISIS AND ISSUES WITH ADDICTION STEMMING FROM OPIOIDS SPECIFICALLY.

>> THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT TRANSIT, WE ALL KNOW THAT, WE'VE BEEN SAYING THAT, IT'S ABOUT SOCIAL BREAKDOWN AND WE HAVE TO DO OUR BEST TO FIGHT BACK WITH THAT BECAUSE IT REALLY THREATENS OUR CIVILIZATION.

I DON'T MEAN TO BE MELLOW DRAMATIC, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT.

>> Mary: ALSO GUN CONTROL IS ONE OF THE MANY BILLS DEMOCRATS SAY REPUBLICANS HAVE BLOCKED FOR YEARS IN DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, BUT NOW WITH COMPLETE CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL, ACTION IS HAPPENING.

>> MEMBERS, YOU'RE WELL AWARE THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATE OF GUN DEATHS THAN OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

>> Mary: BACKGROUNDS COLLECTION FOR PRIVATE GUN SALES WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN COMMITTEE.

>> HAVING SERVED AS A POLICE CHIEF AND BEING IN THE POSITION OF RESPONDING TO A HELPLESS FAMILY WHO ONLY AFTER A TRAGEDY WHEN THEIR OB TOOK THEIR LIFE AFTER PURCHASING A GUN FROM A PRIVATE PARTY WITHOUT ANY LEVEL OF BACKGROUND CHECK, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED HAD A BACKGROUND CHECK OR THE PERMIT PROCESS OCCURRED.

>> WHILE WE KNOW THAT THIS WON'T PREVENT ALL GUN VIOLENCE OR ALL GUN DEATHS, WE DO BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Mary: WHILE LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORTS THE BILL, LOCAL AND NATIONAL GUN GROUPS OPPOSE THE EFFORT.

>> ONLY 8% OF CRIMINALLY ACQUIRED FIREARMS COME FROM PRIVATE SALES AND A LOT OF THOSE SALES ARE FROM FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WOULD IKELY BE EXEMPTED BY THIS BILL.

WE'RE MISSING THE TARGET HERE, GOING AFTER THE CRIMINAL ACQUISITION OF FIREARMS, OVERWHELMINGLY THE BLACK MARKET STRAW PURCHASERS, THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE I THINK WE CAN BUILD A LOT OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO GO AFTER.

>> THIS BILL MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO LOAN A FIREARM TO MANY TYPES OF RELATIVES AND FRIENDS, AND MINNESOTA HAS A STRONG TRADITION OF HUNTING AND IT IS COMMON TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE INTO THE SPORT BY LOANING FIREARMS FOR HUNTING PURPOSES.

>> T'S MESSED UP.

YOU'RE NOT GOING AFTER THE PEOPLE YOU SHOULD BE GOING AFTER HERE.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS PUTTING MORE BURDEN ON PEOPLE LIKE ME, PEOPLE LIKE THE CHAIR WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS.

>> WHEN I PURCHASED A FIREARMS FROM JOE SPORTING GOODS, THE BACKGROUND PROCESS AND BEEN ONEROUS WHATSOEVER.

IT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED ME TO BUY SOME MORE STUFF.

>> I CHALLENGE FOLKS TO FIND A WAY TO JUSTIFY 3600 DEATHS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY THIS.

>> RESTRICTING ACCESS TO A SECOND AMENDMENT, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, THE VAST NUMBER OF CITIZENS IN MAKING IT A LOT OF HURDLES IN ORDER TO EXERCISE THEIR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

>> Mary: AND RED FLAG WARNINGS ARE ALSO TOOLS LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A NUMBER THAT SAYS, 76% OF DEATHS ARE BY FIREARMS AND PART OF THAT ARE SUICIDES, I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY GETTING AT THE ISSUE.

THIS IS DESIGNED EXACTLY TO