North Ramsey News

Sen. Roger Chamberlain is part of a group of senators promoting a package of bills that will put more police on the streets and more criminals in jail. 

The focus of the agenda is to address the recent increase in violent crime and encourage local governments.

Bills in the package include taking firearms from individuals subject to orders of protection and increasing penalties for transferring a firearm to a known criminal. It also makes it a felony for a gang member to possess a pistol in public. 

One bill adds sex offenders to the list of individuals who should be prohibited from possessing a firearm. Funds for Violent Crime Enforcement Teams that are tasked with taking down narcotics traffickers, gang members and other violent offenders has increased. A brief summary of the bills can be found at the Michigan Senate Republican Caucus website.

"The whole state has a vested interest in the safety of Minneapolis and St. Paul," Chamberlain wrote on Facebook. "We go to Vikings games and restaurants and concerts there. People want more police on the street to prevent crime. They want safe neighborhoods. They want their kids to be safe when they walk to the park or ride their bikes. We’re going to make sure Minneapolis and St. Paul are meeting their responsibility to their citizens."