Posted on 02/14/2012 8:22:17 AM PST by marktwain
Minnesota gun and self-defense laws could be set for some major changes if Bill 1467 is signed into law. It's an attempt to enhance the rights of homeowners during an intrusion, and broaden permit-to-carry law.
Supporters say the bill only reaffirms and guarantees people rights they should already have under the Second Amendment - the right to bear arms. Opponents disagree, saying it puts people in more danger, most notably law enforcement officials.
Bill Bergquist – Clay County Sheriff: “Shoot and ask questions later is what it looks like, so there's some concerns about that.”
It's commonly known as the Castle Doctrine, Bill 1467 states: An individual taking defensive action may use all force and means, including deadly force. It presumes a person using deadly force has reasonable belief that imminent harm exists. The bill also redefines a "dwelling" to include front and back yards as well as motor vehicles.
State Senator Gretchen Hoffman – (R) Vergas: “If there is some place where you can legally be and going about your business in a legal way and somebody threatens you with harm, you should be able to defend yourself.”
For Clay County Sheriff Bill Bergquist, a law like this isn't necessary.
Bill Bergquist: “Basically the person who is going to be using deadly force has to show why they did what they did or how they felt threatened, and that's worked. I don't know if loosening that up is going to make it any better.”
The bill also includes articles that would recognize permit-to-carry licenses from every other state and restrict peace-officers from taking firearms during a time of public emergency.
The bill already passed the Minnesota House last spring. Making only minor changes to the bill, it passed the Senate Finance Committee by a vote of 10 - 5.
Gretchen Hoffman: “I think it's an important bill for our second amendment rights. I've always believed in our constitutional rights and I think this Bill really reinforces those rights.”
Senator Hoffman expects the Bill will go before the Senate Floor sometime in the next 10 days. If it passes the senate floor, like it's expected, it would still need to be signed by Governor Dayton before becoming law.
And County Sheriffs also have a habit of sticking their noses in it and telling us what our rights are. FR wonders why the police can’t be trusted.
Never mind the fact that in the other 57 states with the Castle Doctrine it hasn't happened.
“...saying it puts people in more danger, most notably law enforcement officials.”
No, it simply demands that ALL people be a bit more respectful of the rights of others, whether that other person is a criminal or LEO.
On the average, MN Sheriffs are ok. It’s the police chiefs that are general out to lunch...
A running joke up here is that if you shoot a multi-conviction rapist/murderer coming through your bedroom window... Make sure he lands inside the room or be sure to drag the body back in.
People have been prosecuted and gone to jail for defending themselves here when some idiot prosecutor decided they didn’t do enough to try and run away.
Screw that. Anywhere I have a right to be, I should have an equal right to defend myself from attack. Period.
Such laws bother labor unions. It's riskier for union thugs to try to intimidate somebody who is armed. It also bothers other Dem constituencies who might try informal income redistribution activities. Lastly, it potentially reduces the need for public employees in the police, courts and prisons.
Call 911 and law enforcement gets there 10 to 15 minutes after the fact.
In other words the perp or perps are long gone by the time the law arrives to fill out their paperwork, so why would these changes put them in danger?
Something is very wrong when a person can't defend themselves during a time of public emergency.
The control freaks that are against these changes don't care about the average citizen
You make good points. Progressives in general want more power for the government, so anything that reduces or restricts that power is opposed.
We all should keep in mind that it has been the states not the federal government that have made EVER ONE of these changes.
Thank God for States Rights!
If law enforcement officials don't intrude into the homes of law-abiding citizens, they have nothing to worry about.
Governor Goofy will never sign it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.