Plymouth City Council Reverses Position on Background Checks

THIS IS WCCO FOUR NEWS. A LOCAL CITY SOUNDS -- COUNCIL SPARKED CONTROVERSY OVER ITS DECISION TO REMOVE CRIMINAL SUPPORT FOR GUN OWNERS. THE COUNCIL VOTED TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION REQUIRING A BACKGROUND CHECK TO BUY A GUN. TONIGHT THE CITY COUNCIL RETRACTED ITS SUPPORT. IT'S AN ISSUE HEAVY ON THE MINDS OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE DUE TO CRIME. Reporter: FEBRUARY 12, 28-YEAR- OLD TRICIA NELSON DIED AFTER HER FIANCIE STABBED AND SHOT HER AT THIS PLYMOUTH INTERSECTION. FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL, HE WAS A PROHIBITED PERSON, SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD A FIREARM. Reporter: THE TRAGEDY SPARKED A CONVERSATION ABOUT GUN CONTROL. THIS IS A BIG DEAL. Reporter: COUNCIL ORIGINALLY SUPPORTED LEGISLATION PREVENTING INDIVIDUALS NOT ABLE TO PURCHASE A GUN FROM DOING SO WITHOUT A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK. IT'S NOT A CITY ISSUE. Reporter: TONIGHT THE COUNCIL VOTED TO RETRACTED SUPPORT AFTER LEADERS SAY RESIDENTS WERE UPSET WITH THE COUNCIL WEIGHING IN ON GUN CONTROL. IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE ON OUR PRIORITIES LIST. THE STATE WILL MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. Reporter: NICHOLAS RAEL SAYS THE CITY TAKING A STAND WOULD NOT AFFECT ANY POLICY IN THE BACKGROUND CHECKS WOULD ONLY AFFECT PRIVATE SALES, NOT CRIME. IT WOULD ONLY PREVENT PEOPLE, FRIENDS, FAMILY FROM GIVING A FIREARM TO THEIR SON, SELLING A FIREARM TO THEIR UNCLE. Reporter: OTHERS DISAGREED SAYING THE MESSAGE MATTERED EVEN IF NO POLICY WOULD CHANGE. THEY DON'T PASSIVE LOSS BUT THEY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE AND IT MOVES UP. IF YOU ARE TO ASK ANYONE WAS TRICIA NELSON'S LIFE FOR THREE MINUTES OF TIME AND $45 FOR A GUN PURCHASER TO GO THROUGH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK, I THINK THEY WOULD SAY YES. ALL SIX MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TONIGHT VOTED TO REMOVE THE ITEM FROM THEIR PRIORITIES. THE MAN WHO SHOT AND KILLED