Gun Control Could be Costly

ST. PAUL (AP) - Lawmakers' plans to improve Minnesota's existing background check system for gun sales will come at a cost.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is trying to determine how much it will cost to dig through old court records for mental health commitment information to send to the national database of people who can't own a gun.

Janet Marshall with the State Court Administrator's office says many of those records - dating back to 1994 - aren't computerized. That means significant costs. The state will also have to pay to prepare data and send it faster.

An estimate is expected next week.

Sen. Ron Latz, a St. Louis Park Democrat, is still pushing for universal background checks. His bill passed out of committee last month.