February 15, 2023

Representative John Burkel

309 State Office Building

St. Paul, MN 55155

Representative Burkel,

I am writing you today over a greatly concerning proposed bill that has been introduced into legislation: HF396. This bill would require law abiding citizens to store firearms and ammunition separately inside their own homes. This is a dangerous overreach of State authority and a direct violation of the Second Amendment.

If passed, this bill would not only hinder law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves in their own homes, but also turn legal gun-owning citizens into criminals if they choose to be prepared to defend themselves from intruders, or for farmers to protect livestock from predators. In its current form, Minnesota State Statute 609.666 prohibits negligent storage of firearms. This current law is sufficient to protect our children from coming into unsupervised contact with firearms.

12/08/22

Rocksbury Fire Update

The deceased female discovered in the house fire has been identified as 70-year-old Audrey Miller. The case continues to be under investigation.

12/07/22

A residential house fire was reported in Rocksbury Township in the early morning hours on December 7^th,2022. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Thief River Falls Police Department, Thief River Falls Fire Department, and the State Fire Marshall’s Office responded. The fire was extinguished and upon investigation it was discovered that a female was deceased inside the residence. This case remains under investigation. No further information will be released until notification of next of kin. No other injuries reported.

Chief Deputy Seth Vettleson

PDF File

12/07/22

 A residential house fire was reported in Rocksbury Township in the early morning hours on December 7^th,2022.  The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Thief River Falls Police Department, Thief River Falls Fire Department, and the State Fire Marshall’s Office responded.  The fire was extinguished and upon investigation it was discovered that a female was deceased inside the residence.  This case remains under investigation.  No further information will be released until notification of next of kin.  No other injuries reported.

Chief Deputy Seth Vettleson

PDF File