Minnesota GOP wants to designate mRNA vaccines as ‘weapons of mass destruction’

Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives have introduced a bill to designate mRNA vaccines, the technology primarily used for the COVID-19 vaccines, as weapons of mass destruction.

House Bill 3219, which is also known as the “mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act,” has eight Republican co-sponsors and would designate mRNA injections and products as weapons of mass destruction under Minnesota law. If the bill were to pass into law, anyone who administers an mRNA vaccine would be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a $500 fine.

The bill was written by state Rep. Shane Mekeland (R-Clear Lake), who has also authored legislation to make ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine more readily available. Both medications are promoted as remedies for treating COVID-19 by conspiracy theorists on the internet, but the drugs’ effectiveness in treating the virus have been disputed by clinical research.

As of June 2023, mRNA technology is reportedly being studied for other vaccines that protect against the flu, the Zika virus and HIV.

Although Mekeland is the primary sponsor of HB 3219, the legislation was apparently written by Dr. Joseph Sansone, who practices hypnotherapy in Florida.

Shane is the courageous rep who introduced, but @PhdSansone wrote the bioweapons language.

— Andrew Zywiec, M.D. (@AndrewZywiecMD) April 12, 2025