Conceal-Carry Passes Handgun Bill in Minnesota
POSTED BY: Channain
UPDATED: Friday, January 23, 2004 19:20
VIEWED: 24375
PAGE 1 of 11
those of you who have been on the "What Made you Think of Firefly today" thread heard me mention this already. a law allowing the conceal-carry of handguns was recently passed in Minnesota and will go into effect next month. a few letters generated by this have expressed concern that this law will only serve to escalate violence (yes, there is violence in Minnesota). now I'm sure some of y'all reside in states that already have this law in place and I find it doubtful you're spending a great deal of time keeping your heads down.
Quote:
Minneapolis StarTribune
May 4
Conceal-carry passes HANDGUN BILL
A bill to make permits to carry handguns in public available to more people gained final legislative approval Monday and was signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
It is to go into effect in 30 days. Eventually, according to an official legislative estimate, it could increase the number of people licensed to tote guns on Minnesota streets from fewer than 12,000 now to about 90,000.
I'll be interested to hear whatever insights you insightful folks might have.
"I'm still flyin'...that's enough." ~ Mal
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Okay, I know this is a sensitive issue with some people but think about who it really effects. The average everyday person isn't going to start carrying a gun everwhere now. It won't help criminals because they have never had a permit to carry a gun before. In Florida you have to take a special class then you have to go through a very rigorous background check and the whole process can take up to a half year.
Years ago I worked for an investigative firm in Cleveland and had to go to some really bad neighborhoods. I'll admit a few times I had my gun under my seat but if for some reason I would have ever had to use it for protection I could have wound up in jail. They are still debating the same bill in Ohio and have been for as long as I can remember.
Anti-gun people always try to scare you into believing it will all of a sudden be a shootout on every corner and all sorts of innocent people will get killed. This already happens all over the country and its not by people who legally can carry a gun or even own one for the most part.
Just my 2 cents. I'm getting my permit where I live but probably will never carry my gun with me. Unless I felt threatened in some way or feared for my safety, but I try not to go into bad areas unless I have to.
Quote:
"Then let them appear, to give us something to believe in. If the Vorlons do not see the danger, then perhaps the danger does not exist."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
I guess all you can do is watch the stats...hopefully, gun related injury will not rise but if it does you probably have a good idea of why it did...
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Not that I have a link or anything to back this up with, but violent crime tends to decrease when citizens are armed and willing to defend themselves.
And Hottie's right. Criminals aren't going to go for this, cos they probably can't produce liscenses for the weapons they already have. Permit or no, they will still have them.
Sarah
I'm a dying breed who still believes, haunted by American dreams. ---Neko Case
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Hey Channain,
As a Minnesotan-living-elsewhere I certainly feel your concern. But then again, it's a fairly level-headed state to begin with, and historically if they do something and it turns out bad, they're pretty quick to admit stupidity and go back and fix it. And it is true that criminals don't usually have a license of any sort, so that won't be where the real impact is felt.
I guess I'm saying don't fret too much. We're a relatively sane people. :)
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by Zelda
I guess I'm saying don't fret too much. We're a relatively sane people. :)
thanks, Zelda, Sarahetc, Nonoluna, HotforKaylee and particularly Succatash--the bear is CUTE!
it's true, Minnesotans are relatively sane people, with an exception here or there...there or here. as the daughter of a very pioneer-spirited pair, i support the Second Amendment. there are times, however, when the First Amendment can get a little, well, annoying.
the pastor at my church recently observed that they may have to come up with a sign: "Come in and worship, leave your gun at the door." brings to mind the weapons detector in Shindig, doesn't it?
so, not fretting, just watching the ways of the world and trying not to roll my eyes too much. gives a girl a headache after awhile.
"I'm still flyin'...that's enough." ~ Mal
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by Succatash
"I support the right to keep and arm bears."
that link's going in my faves
"I'm still flyin'...that's enough." ~ Mal
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Spent a year and a half delivering goods into some of the more interesting neighborhoods in Dallas, Houston, OKC, KC, etc. etc.
Didn't pack heat. (Did wear a large, barely-legal knife right on my hip, though.)
Never had a problem. Only had one situation where I thought I might.
But then, I'm a big, hefty fellow. Most predators go looking for the easier prey. Not bragging, though. There was more than one driver who got assaulted on the job. My number just never came up.
Like a friend of mine, woman I went to college with who was all of 5'1 and maybe ninety pounds.
In a not-too-bad neighborhood, walking to and from the college, twice she got chased home. One time, she barely got the door slammed in the guy's face. Thud.
So she started carrying a pistol in her purse. At the time, illegal as all hell in the state of Texas. (Texas, for god's sake!)
Had one other possible problem crop up, group of kids circling in a pickup. Put her hand in her purse, they got they idea and went on their merry way.
Had another friend, a woman who owned a small comic shop and closed at night, by herself, and usually carrying her bank drop. Texas having come around to letting peaceable citizens carry firearms, she got herself a permit.
THAT is who concealed carry is about. Those who are in circumstances that put them into dangerous situations on a regular basis should have a fighting chance. Generally, the very notion that the target might have a weapon puts the predator off.
In Texas, licensed carriers have a lower 'bad shoot' rate than the police.
There are costs associated with an armed society. But I'd rather live in a place where home invasion burglaries went to zero right after a couple of granny-ladies blew one straight to hell.
(Ironic story about my college friend. I was in a government class and debating the issue with my left-of-Karl Marx professor. His take on it was that the proposed law would allow anyone to bring a gun RIGHT INTO THIS CLASSROOM. Not true, but for three days a week the previous semester, my friend had. Along with god knows how many other women. In Texas you handle women's purses very gingerly... drop it and it might go off.)
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Posted by Archer:
Didn't pack heat. (Did wear a large, barely-legal knife right on my hip, though.) … But then, I'm a big, hefty fellow.
You sound so Jayneish, or at least someone who would give him a good fight.
-------------------------------------
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
Aristotle
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME