From staff reports

ST. PAUL — State Sen. Gary Dahms, R-Redwood Falls, expressed concern on Friday about the speed and effectiveness of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

His release follows testimony he heard from Minnesota residents during a Senate Aging and Long-Term Care Committee meeting this week citing concerns over the lack of communication to the public, nonexistent transparency regarding decisions being made about vaccination phases, the withholding of doses, and seniors not receiving a priority timeline.

In his release, Dahms urged Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health to improve the state’s vaccine rollout.

“It is very troubling to hear Minnesotans from all over our state express disapproval at the speed and effectiveness of the state’s vaccine rollout,” Dahms said. “We need life to get back to normal as soon as possible and getting people safely vaccinated is an important step in that process. Getting vaccinated should be a choice, but many people in vulnerable populations choosing to get vaccinated are not able to get COVID-19 vaccines.”

The State Vaccine Advisory group met earlier this week to discuss Governor Walz’s current vaccination plan. The percentage of distributed vaccines that have been administered in Minnesota lags far behind the neighboring states of North Dakota and South Dakota.

Walz announced on Thursday that the State will expand eligibility of COVID-19 vaccines to everyone over the age of 65, but questions remain if vaccines will be able to get to those in that group. According to the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), COVID-19 mortality rates are also highest among older adults. Compared with persons aged 35-54 years, those aged 65-74 years have an 8 times higher risk, and those aged 75 years and older have over a thirty times higher risk for COVID-19 deaths.

Reopening of schools

Also this week, Dahms offered his support of a bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate giving school districts the option to determine their own procedures and timelines for reopening.

“Our children are the future, and it is imperative we get them safely back in the classroom,” Dahms said. “Each school district is best prepared to determine their unique course of action to safely reopen their schools. Local school boards and community leaders know their districts and students best. They are the ones to make the best decisions on how to safely reopen their schools instead of state bureaucrats.”

Shotgun-only zones

State Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, this week announced he co-authored legislation to eliminate the shotgun-only zone during the regular firearms seasons in Minnesota. An exception is made to allow local government units to prohibit the use of rifles on property under their jurisdiction during special deer hunts.

“The objective of this bill is simply to allow people to add a few inches of barrel when they’re hunting,” Swedzinski said. “Rifles would increase ease of firearm use for youth compared with shotguns, something that is especially important as we look to entice younger generations of game enthusiasts.”

Swedzinski indicated this proposal also would benefit hunters by simplifying the rules, applying the same standards found elsewhere in our state to the southwest region.

“At last year’s annual meeting, the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association’s membership voted to support legislation that would remove the shotgun-only zone in Minnesota,” said MDHA Executive Director Craig Engwall. “This was based in large part on assurances from DNR Enforcement that this would not raise any safety concerns. We look forward to supporting legislative efforts to remove the shotgun-only zone this year.”

Swedzinski said the DNR has supported previous versions of this bill, including H.F. 848/S.F. 964 in the last biennium.

“I’m optimistic that, with the DNR on board and support from stakeholders, we can achieve bipartisan momentum in the Legislature and move this bill through the process,” Howe said. “I am continuing to work with fellow legislators to get them up to speed and look forward to committee hearings taking place so we can discuss this bill and its merits.”