Community and religious leaders from north Minneapolis spoke out Tuesday against a proposed gun bill at the Capitol.

They say DFL Rep. Debra Hilstrom's bill would hurt communities of color by creating mandatory minimum sentences for gun possession by those who shouldn't have them.

Leroy Duncan, with the anti-violence group Protect Minnesota, said instead of making more people criminals Minnesota should close the loophole on background checks.

"This bill mistakenly misplaces the issue of gun violence on our communities, while failing to even attempt ... to create safer communities in our state," Duncan said.

Hilstrom's bill is supported by the NRA and the Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance. A different bill sponsored by DFL Rep. Michael Paymar that would require background checks for all gun purchases will likely get a hearing in the next week.