Posted on 09/04/2006 11:19:03 PM PDT by neverdem
Editorial Observer
A couple of weeks ago, I checked into a hotel in Bloomington, a Minneapolis suburb framed by the airport and the Mall of America. On the hotel door was a sign: “Firearms Banned on These Premises.” The next day I drove to St. Joseph, an hour west of the Twin Cities, where I saw the same sign. Slowly the logical conclusion sank in. If firearms are banned on these premises, then they must not be banned in other places.
Sure enough, a year ago the State Legislature passed a “concealed carry” law, which means that it’s legal to carry a concealed weapon if you have a permit. So that no one misses the point, the Legislature has also turned Minnesota into what is called a “shall require” state. If you apply for a concealed-weapon permit, the local authorities must grant it to you.
I asked one of the state coalitions opposed to these laws whether it would attack them in the Legislature this year. The answer was no. It is too busy trying to defeat a “shoot first” bill, which would give gun owners the right to fire away instead of trying to avoid a confrontation. The way I see it, Minnesota is only one step away from requiring every citizen to carry a gun and use it when provoked.
There are some other twists to these laws. A person carrying a concealed weapon cannot be banned from a public building, even if it’s a library full of kids. Churches have succeeded in keeping guns out of the pews, but they’re having to fight another court battle to keep them out of the parking lot. The application for a concealed-weapon permit appears to have been created by people who believe the real threat in carrying a gun is...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
A "chill wind" blows through the land, Mr. Klinkenborg.
This gal is aptly named. She perfectly represents a cross between Hogans's Heroes idiot Colonel Klink and Star Trek's "Resistance Is Futile" Borg.
Possibly they are one and the same. Never know these days.
I could love this state.
With a title like that in the Terrorist Tip Sheet? Does mommy still hold your hand when you cross the street?
There's at least two other reasons to read the Terrorist Tip Sheet, especially when it's still at no charge. Their stories can still be first excellent, in particular, their health & science articles if they avoid politics. Their OpEd Contributors can also be excellent. Check the author that's linked in comment# 43. It's John R. Lott Jr.
Who determines "if applied only to stable noncriminals"? Is post partum depression a reason to be denied the right? Should someone that is convicted of failing to pay a parking ticket loose the right? Someone that gets busted for stealing candy?
Well, no - but I would at least like a warning before I crud up my keyboard.
I'm sorry. Maybe you should purge yourself to be on the safe side for this too.
HOO-RAH from this Airman!
It successfully lobbied for laws that give citizens the ability to carry firearms in 23 states in the past 12 years, including Kansas and Nebraska this year. It has also legislated the right of gun owners to stand firm and use deadly force in the case of a dangerous attack in 15 states, 14 of them this year. In addition, this year it got 10 states to agree not to confiscate weapons during times of declared emergencies.
Not bad.
thanks!
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