MN Bill Would Criminalize mRNA Vaccines, Label Them 'Weapons Of Mass Destruction'

 A group of Republican lawmakers introduced a bill in the Minnesota House of Representatives that would classify mRNA vaccines and products as "weapons of mass destruction" and criminalize their manufacture, distribution, and possession.

"It's a shot across the bow of the biotechnology industry, which has taken advantage of its unique liability protections and the fear generated by emergency to fast-track novel gene-altering treatments which are not fully understood," Rep. Walter Hudson (Albertville), one of the bill's authors, told Patch.

"These treatments were coerced under threat of lost employment and social censure, rather than offered under the longstanding ethical norm of informed consent."

Hudson said the bill "would need significant amendment to become law" but described its "bold opening position" as an effort to "provoke productive conversation about these issues" and ultimately "arrive at a reasonable legislative response."

The bill, HF 4991, would prohibit the manufacturing, distribution, and possession of "any product that uses or contains messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology" in Minnesota.

Violations would be treated as criminal offenses under state law. The legislation would also require state and local officials to enforce the ban, with penalties for those who fail to comply.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines represent a new approach to disease prevention, using genetic instructions to train the body's immune system to recognize and fight infections.

While mRNA vaccines first became widely known through COVID-19 efforts, researchers are developing mRNA-based vaccines for a range of other diseases, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Zika virus, and certain cancers.

While relatively new, mRNA technology has become the subject of misinformation and unfounded attacks, despite broad support from the scientific community.

For example, mRNA is not able to alter or modify a person's genetic makeup (DNA), notes the Minnesota Department of Health.

Mainstream scientific organizations, including the CDC and FDA, have found mRNA vaccines to be safe and effective.

Separately, the Minnesota Reformer reported that the language from HF 4991 appears to have been drafted by Joseph Sansone, a Florida-based hypnotist.

The Reformer describes Sansone as "a conspiracy theorist who believes that mRNA treatments are 'nanoparticle injections' that amount to 'biological and technological weapons of mass destruction.'"

In addition to Hudson, the bill was introduced by Republican Reps. Shane Mekeland (Clear Lake), Krista Knudsen (Lake Shore), Jeff Dotseth (Silver Township), Tom Murphy (Underwood), Pam Altendorf (Red Wing), Elliott Engen (White Bear Township), and Isaac Schultz (Elmdale Township).

The bill has not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing.

https://patch.com/minnesota/saintpaul/mn-bill-would-label-mrna-vaccines-weapons-mass-destruction