Minnesota Handgun bill faces opposition

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Handgun bill faces opposition . By Ailene Dawson The Austin Daily Herald Published Saturday, February 02, 2002 7:58 PM CSTThe Minnesota House of Representatives passed a bill last session by a vote of 85-46 that would allow Minnesota residents to carry concealed handguns in public. The measure was given praise by Gov. Jesse Ventura. Rep. Pat Pariseau (R-Farmington) is carrying the bill in the state Senate. Though the bill was never discussed on the first day of the session, Sen. Grace Schwab (R-Albert Lea) said the bill was unofficially polled before the two new senators were on board and there weren't enough votes to pass it.Schwab said she is in favor of the bill because it would require gun safety and maintenance training statewide, and a background check.It would also impose more severe punishment for those offenders who have a permit to carry a concealed handgun, who are cited for such things as DWI or assault. Those convicted of felonies or who have a history of mental illness also would not qualify for a permit.She said that the present law requires that the applicant give reasons of personal safety for applying for a permit to carry and it allows local law enforcement officials to issue permits at their discretion.The current law, which is subjective and not uniformly applied, has been brought to task, Schwab said, because a few sheriffs in the metropolitan area won't issue permits for any reason.One case that shows the faults of the current law Schwab cited, was of a woman who was confined to a wheelchair who rode the bus late at night. She had applied for a permit and been denied. The woman stated in her application that she was at a disadvantage because she couldn't run away from an attacker."Rep. Rob Leighton (DFL Austin) said he was one of the 46 House members who voted against the House bill."I believe in local control and that applicants have to show justification for needing a permit," he said. With the new bill, he said, "Most anyone would be able to get a permit unless they were mentally ill or a felon."Those persons, who had been reported for assault and not convicted, would also be eligible to have a permit under the new bill, Leighton said. It would take away the discretion of the local law enforcement officials.Mower County Chief Deputy Terese Amazi said the old law is much better and proposed law has too much leeway.Under the current law, she said, when someone applies for a permit to carry a handgun, local law enforcement can access local records to see if that person has a background of mental illness, a civil commitment, has been reported for domestic abuse or assault even if it hasn't been brought to a conviction.The new bill would only allow conviction of a crime to be used as reasons for denial.Amazi said that sheriffs are concerned about the new bill and don't support it. However, she said, they have put together a counter bill with more stringent limitations.Call Ailene Dawson at 434-2235 or e-mail her at ailene.dawson@austindailyherald.com. http://www.austindailyherald.com/NF/omf/adhdaily/news_story.html?[rkey=0007096