MN House Republicans push ‘three strikes’ crime bill

‘What this bill says is that when you get your third violent felony conviction, we’re done. Like, we’re not playing anymore.’

By Jenna Gloeb – Alpha News – March 8, 2025

Some of us are old enough to remember Bill Clinton’s famous “Three Strikes, You’re Out” law—a tough-on-crime policy that cracked down on repeat offenders. Now, a Republican lawmaker in Minnesota is pushing a similar approach, but this time, it’s Democrats leading the resistance.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, would establish mandatory prison sentences, aggravated durational departures, and consecutive sentences for certain repeat offenders.

Hudson, speaking before the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee on Wednesday, made it clear that he’s done with giving second chances to people who keep hurting others.

“We’re talking about people, we’re talking about victims, we’re talking about perpetrators, we’re talking about human beings doing things to other human beings that should not be done. And what are we going to do about that?” Hudson said. “Again, what this bill says is that when you get your third violent felony conviction, we’re done. Like, we’re not playing anymore. Past that point, I don’t know if I care if you ever become a productive citizen because you have opted out of productive society.”

Tweet from Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville | Screenshot

Democrats on the committee not sold

Rep. Sandra Feist, DFL-New Brighton, pushed back, saying lawmakers should look at crime through a broader scope instead of just ramping up punishment.

“This bill is really focused on punishment, and I just want to look at these types of considerations with a bigger lens,” Feist said.

Rep. Kelly Moller, DFL-Shoreview, expressed doubt that victim advocacy groups actually support harsher penalties for perpetrators of violent crimes.

“I’ve heard ‘victims’ come up multiple times, and I’d be curious to know how they feel,” Moller said. “In past years, they have stated that increased penalties are not what they believe … is the answer to solving crime.

Feist also echoed the sentiment that victims of violent crime don’t always want to see their perpetrators punished.

“We also need to look at what people who have been a victim want, and that’s not always, you know, black and white punishment,” Feist said.

Hudson argued that Minnesota’s criminal justice system focuses too much on rehabilitating offenders instead of protecting the public. He recounted a time that he met with a juvenile justice worker who showed him a thick file filled with criminal cases involving just six juveniles.

“Those six juveniles, over the course of the last 18 months, are personally responsible for 174 separate victims,” Hudson said. “At some point, our consideration properly should be the 174 as opposed to the six.”

Qualls testifies about recent carjacking attempt

Former gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls testified at the hearing, sharing his personal concerns about rising crime in Minnesota.

“I have a son that attends the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and the recent attempted carjacking that happened with a student—not my son but a different student—where a bullet went through his windshield,” Qualls said. “I don’t know if [the suspect] was a repeat offender, but I’m sharing this information to tell you how far we’ve dropped in recent years as a state and as a city. I encourage you to consider this bill for passage.”

Qualls pointed to Minneapolis’ declining safety rankings as further evidence of the state’s crime problem.

“In 2009, Forbes magazine ranked the top 25 cities for quality of life and safety, and Minneapolis was number one. Today … it’s not even in the top 25,” he said.

Restorative justice vs. tougher sentencing

Wednesday’s hearing was the latest round in a long-running debate over Minnesota’s approach to crime. Hudson and other Republicans say tougher penalties are necessary to keep dangerous offenders off the streets.

“Once you hit your third violent felony conviction, and each of those words are equally impactful—third, violent, felony conviction—maybe you need a timeout,” Hudson said. “Maybe you need to go sit in the corner and wear a dunce cap for a little bit and think about what you did.”

Democrats, on the other hand, agree that “we definitely need people to be held accountable” but are more focused on restorative justice and addressing the root causes of crime, like poverty, mental health, and addiction.

“I’m really excited about restorative justice,” said Feist. “We should not legislate from a place of fear and handwaving. I think we really do need to look at the data.”

For now, the bill remains in committee, with more debate expected in the coming weeks.

PHOTO: Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, discusses his bill during a March 5 committee hearing. | Minnesota House Info/YouTube