HF 3181

as introduced - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to civil liability; providing for a cause of 
  1.3             action for certain firearm damages; proposing coding 
  1.4             for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 604. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [604.13] [CIVIL ACTION FOR FIREARM DAMAGES.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] (a) "Antique firearm" has 
  1.8   the meaning given in section 624.712.  
  1.9      (b) "Firearm" means:  
  1.10     (1) a weapon, including a starter gun, that will, is 
  1.11  designed to, or may be readily converted to expel a projectile 
  1.12  by means of an explosive; 
  1.13     (2) the frame or receiver of a weapon in clause (1); or 
  1.14     (3) a muffler or silencer for an item in clause (1) or (2). 
  1.15     "Firearm" does not include an antique firearm. 
  1.16     Subd. 2.  [CAUSE OF ACTION.] (a) The state or a political 
  1.17  subdivision has a cause of action against a person who 
  1.18  negligently manufactures, markets, sells, or distributes a 
  1.19  firearm.  Damages that may be recovered include health care, law 
  1.20  enforcement, and other costs to the criminal justice system 
  1.21  resulting from the discharge of the firearm. 
  1.22     (b) An individual has a cause of action against a person 
  1.23  who negligently manufactures, markets, sells, or distributes a 
  1.24  firearm.  Damages that may be recovered include injury to person 
  1.25  or property that results from the discharge of the firearm.