MN) Gun law turns one year old 04-29-04
MN) Gun law turns one year old 04-29-04
Posted on Thu, Apr. 29, 2004
OF THE PEOPLE: Gun law turns 1 year old
BY JIM RAGSDALE
Pioneer Press
David Haagensen drives to work with his gun on the seat next to him, and
he says it came in handy one night a few weeks ago.
Haagensen, attending one of two competing events Wednesday that
commemorated the passage of the state’s new gun law, said he foiled an
attempted carjacking as he was on his way to work the late shift at
Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
“I pointed it at his head, because he was trying to open my locked door,
and he was pointing a gun at me,” he said. “He ran away. I drove to
work and called the cops.”
Minneapolis police confirmed that Haagensen reported the April 9
incident and that they are investigating.
Haagensen added his voice to an enthusiastic gathering on the steps of
the state Capitol. With congratulatory speeches, a “Happy Birthday”
sing-along and even a birthday cake, concealed-weapons enthusiasts
celebrated Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s signing of the bill one year ago – on
April 28, 2003. It took effect a month later.
Across the street from the pro-gun group, a smaller gaggle of opponents
of the law held their own more somber event, saying the new law is a
mistake.
Kate Krisik of the Minnesota Catholic Conference said the law “fuels our
existing cult of violence with encouraging individuals to respond to
violence, or threats of violence, with violence.”
The bill eliminated the requirement that people demonstrate an
occupational need or a public safety threat in order to legally carry a
loaded weapon in public places. Under the new law, those who clear
background checks and meet training requirements must be granted a
permit.
At the end of 2003, after about a half-year under the new law, there
were 15,677 permits in effect, according to the Department of Public
Safety. While that is a substantial increase from the 12,780 permits
active at the end of 2002, it is far less than opponents of the new law
predicted.
Haagensen said he lives in Minnetonka and drives to work at odd hours.
Speaking of the gun-control gathering, he said, “I don’t know how real
it is for some of those people over there. . But three to five times a
week, I drive through one of the worst neighborhoods in Minneapolis to
get to work.”
Signs in the pro-gun crowd were blunt. “It’s a Shame Dru Sjodin Didn’t
Have a Concealed Carry Weapon,” read a double-sided sign carried by
Walt Edin, a truck driver from Upsala. The other side of his sign bore a
picture of the World Trade towers and read: “If Pilots Had Been Armed,
We Wouldn’t Need to Remember the Towers.”
Edin said he applied for and received a permit but has never actually
carried the weapon in public. “I got my permit, because it’s legal, and
I can, and so far, I’ve never carried,” he said.
“Not everybody has to carry,” he said. “But some of them do, and the
perpetrators don’t know who is and who isn’t. It makes everybody
safer.”
Cedric Scofield of Newport, who is retired, said he does not have a
permit but came because of his support for shooting sports. Scofield,
who has long been active in third-party politics in Minnesota, said,
“It’s a basic issue of liberty for me – liberty and freedom that was
there before our country was founded. We should be allowed to protect
ourselves.”
Pro-gun supporters shouted “That’s right!” and
“Give ‘em the facts!” when friendly legislators spoke, including Rep.
Lynda Boudreau, R-Faribault, the bill’s sponsor. “It is conclusive that
the positive value of firearms, and their use, far outweighs the
negative misuse,”
Boudreau said. Gun-control activists were more somber. “We are here to
observe a solemn anniversary,” said Rev. James Erlandson of the
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in St. Paul. He added, “This law does
not reflect what the state is about.”
Oliver White, minister at Grace Community United Church of Christ in St.
Paul, noted the two events took place near a Capitol area street named
after Martin Luther King Jr. “This is a drive where we should celebrate
peace – not sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to violence,” he said.
White, who is African-American, said the new law is based on fear. “Who
are they pointing those guns at?” he asked. “What is the fear factor?
Who are they afraid of? Well, me – people who look like me.”
Daniel Webster of Minneapolis said he has hopes the new law can
eventually be repealed.
He said while there have been no overt incidents involving new
permit-carriers, the new law creates unnecessary risks.
“Someone with a gun, they could be an honest, everyday citizen, but all
it takes is one bad incident to turn that tide,” Webster said. “And
that bad incident could be at a park, where other people’s kids are at.
The law protects someone to have a loaded gun at a park, with other
people’s kids.”
THE GUN LAW
Wednesday was the first anniversary of Gov.
Pawlenty’s signing of the gun law. The law:
Eliminates the requirement that people demonstrate an occupational need
or a public safety threat in order to legally carry a loaded weapon in
public places.
Requires businesses to post large signs if they don’t want
permit-holders bringing weapons onto the premises.
Has increased the number of permits in effect, but not nearly as much as
some predicted.
According to the state, there were 15,677 permits in effect at the end
of 2003, compared to 12,780 at the end of 2002.
