The National Rifle Association is mobilizing its members to defeat a gun-control bill proposed by two Republicans in the Minnesota Senate. SF 3279 — authored by Sen. Paul Anderson of Plymouth and Sen. Scott Jensen of Chaska — requires criminal background checks for firearm transfers.

Two Democratic senators — Woobury's Susan Kent and Lakeville's Matt Little — joined the Republicans to introduce the bill. Under the proposed law, gun transfers conducted without background checks would result in a gross misdemeanor for a first-time offender and a felony in a second or subsequent conviction.

Photo: An AR-15 with a custom handguard which honors President Donald Trump is displayed by Unique ARs at the 146th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits on April 29, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. With more than 800 exhibitors, the convention is the largest annual gathering for the NRA's more than 5 million members. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) "Following the incomprehensible tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, gun violence and public safety have once again taken over conversations in our homes, schools, and neighborhoods," Anderson said in a statement.

"The bipartisan legislation we unveiled targets two areas in the law:

1) the background check loophole for online and gun show purchases; and, 2) the 'strawman purchase' loophole, for individuals who purchase a firearm on behalf of someone who is ineligible to legally purchase a firearm."

The west metro Republican says his bill will protect the rights of law-abiding Americans but prevent criminals from owning firearms.

Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images According to the NRA, the bill would "further burden the right of law-abiding gun owners."



The gun group is now asking Minnesotans to contact their legislators and urge them to oppose any attempt "to impose a gun control scheme in the North Star State." Read the entire bill below: