Dayton Vows to Veto Bills Legalizing Gun Silencers

ST. PAUL (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton says he'll veto any bill that would legalize gun silencers.

The Republican-controlled House passed that legislation this month among a handful of measures to expand firearm access in Minnesota. Those bills stood little chance of making it to the governor's desk as the majority Democrat Senate has shown no interest in taking them up.

Gun rights advocates call them suppressors. They say suppressors don't truly silence gunfire but merely reduce it to levels less harmful for hearing.

But Dayton quieted any possibility of legalized silencers with a veto threat Thursday. He says quieter guns could put police and civilians at greater risk.