A discussion during a Minnesota House Labor Committee meeting drew attention after State Representative Dave Pinto raised the idea of studying whether individuals benefit from shoplifting, prompting a sharp response from fellow lawmaker Krista Knudsen.
Knudsen addressed the issue publicly after the committee meeting, expressing disbelief over the suggestion that shoplifting could provide any benefit.
“Hey, Minnesota State Representative Christa Knutson, so today in the Labor Committee, Representative Dave Pinto requested a study for the benefits of shoplifting,” Knudsen said.
Knudsen said she could not identify any positive outcomes from theft for businesses that are targeted.
“There are no benefits to shoplifting for the people that are being shoplifted from I have no idea what else to say,” Knudsen said. “I’m shocked.”
Knudsen repeated her reaction while discussing the issue further.
“Actually, I don’t even know what to say,” she said.
Knudsen also questioned who would benefit from shoplifting.
“Who? I don’t know what to say, who, who benefits from shoplifting,” Knudsen said.
She then answered her own question, pointing to those committing the crimes.
“The criminals,” Knudsen said. “Once again, the criminals benefit from shoplifting.”
Knudsen encouraged people to review Pinto’s comments directly.
“Please take a look at the comments to see for yourself,” Knudsen said.
Pinto addressed the matter during the committee discussion, explaining that the question arose following a presentation in the Minnesota House Public Safety Committee related to organized retail theft.
“It is an intriguing line of questions,” Pinto said.
Pinto noted that several lawmakers involved in the conversation also serve on the Public Safety Committee.
“Several of us are on the Public Safety Committee,” Pinto said.
According to Pinto, a group had presented information about potential changes to how organized retail theft is addressed in Minnesota.
“And yesterday, there was a presentation of a group seeking to change how we address organized retail theft,” Pinto said.
He said the discussion led him to consider whether studying the issue might reveal why some people engage in theft.
“And it actually had not occurred to me to ask,” Pinto said.
Pinto suggested that analyzing the issue could potentially provide additional information about motivations behind shoplifting.
“It probably would have been probably would have been good to make sure that they would study, sort of the benefit of shoplifting and of retail theft,” Pinto said.
He added that some individuals could be relying on theft in ways policymakers may not fully understand.
“And because perhaps people are relying on that and sort of using that,” Pinto said.
“Maybe it’s, you know, assisting them in some way.”
Pinto acknowledged that the individuals being discussed in the presentation were violating the law.
“I mean this, these folks were describing people violating the law,” Pinto said.
However, he said examining the issue might still be useful in understanding the broader situation.
“But I suppose it could be useful to look into that,” Pinto said.
Pinto concluded by emphasizing that the issue ultimately involves policy decisions about how laws should be enforced.
“But ultimately it’s a policy question, right?” Pinto said.
“We do want to make sure when we have a law in place where we’re enforcing it.”
WATCH: