(Undated) — Several new Minnesota laws take effect today.
One piece of legislation increases the penalty for illegal straw gun purchases.
The punishment for the violation moves from a gross misdemeanor to a felony.
Meanwhile, swatting incidents that consist of false emergency calls aimed at sending police to the homes of elected officials and others are rising from a gross misdemeanor to a felony.
In January, someone falsely contacted authorities and a hostage negotiator and sent them to the Delano home of Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer.
A third law that goes into effect today calls for children to no longer ride in the front passenger seat of a vehicle until they are 13 years old.
