Minnesota CCW: Gun law opponents plan rally in governor’s hometown

Bloomington Sun Current ^ | 6/26/03 | Harvey T. Rockwood

[jdege]

Gun law opponents plan rally in governor’s hometown

By Harvey T. Rockwood
Sun Newspapers
(Created 6/26/03 10:19:22 AM)

Kim Stanley says she’s in fear for her life, and she’s taking her concern to the hometown of the man she believes put fear in her heart.

Soon after she heard of the new measure, the Bloomington mother struck out to repeal the state’s new conceal and carry law, which permits the vast majority of law-abiding citizens to carry hidden handguns.

“There is no fixing [the law], because you can’t fix what’s done this badly,” Stanley said.

Stanley is organizing a rally, which is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, June 29, at Central Park in Eagan. Stanley said speakers will include legislators, law enforcement officers and educators.

The new informal organization, picked a site in Eagan precisely because it’s Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s hometown, Stanley said.

Stanley said she believes most Minnesotans don’t approve of the law and don’t want people carrying guns as they go about their daily lives.

“There’s a lot of people who do not want this law on the books,” Stanley said. “This law needs to be repealed.

“I think the residents and legislators of the state of Minnesota can and will do this. Our elected officials really need to listen to us.”

The Eagan City Council recently adopted a resolution urging changes in the gun law. Bloomington’s City Council approved a measure opposing the law before it was passed by the Legislature.

In testimony on the bill at the Capitol, law enforcement officials estimated that 90,000 Minnesotans would eventually be issued permits.

Backers of the bill, called the Minnesota Personal Protection Act, insisted that streets would be safer if law-abiding residents could carry firearms. They asserted that the existing system, which left issuing handgun permits to local law enforcement agencies, was inconsistent and unfair.

Pawlenty signed the bill hours after it was passed. His office did not return a call for comment Friday on the Eagan rally.

Speakers at the rally will include state Sen. Wes Skoglund, DFL-Minneapolis, who led opposition to the bill in the Senate, and Rep. Marie Slawik, DFL-Maplewood, who has written a repeal measure to be introduced in the next legislative session.

Several other legislators, including Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, and Sen. Jane Ranum, DFL-Minneapolis, have been invited to speak, Stanley said. So has former Gov. Arne Carlson, a Republican who opposes the measure.

Teacher Chuck Handlon of Rochester, who organized an earlier rally against the bill in that city, is expected to speak in Eagan, as are a private investigator and church officials.

Additionally, several organizations opposed to conceal and carry will have exhibits at the rally, according to Stanley. Among them are Citizens for a Safer Minnesota, the Initiative for Violence-Free Families of Hennepin County, the Million Mom March and the Southeast Minnesota Alliance Peacemakers.

Federal lawmakers also have been invited, including Sens. Norm Coleman and Mark Dayton and Reps. Jim Ramstad and John Kline. Stanley conceded she’s not optimistic about federal office-holders stepping into a hot state controversy.

“But what they do at the federal level affects us here in Minnesota, so I thought we should invite them,” she said.

The rally will include songs, some of which are being written for the occasion.

“I have two people working on songs that basically express our point of view,” Stanley said.

The rally planners have established a Web site at www.repealconceal.org.

[jdege]

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[Puppage]

she believes put fear in her heart.

Nope. No FACTS here....just her scared little, uninformed FEELINGS

[cryptical]

So what's the Vegas over-under for this event?

I'm no oddsmaker, but I'd have to put it at about 10 (not including speakers).

[brbethke]

But if you crowd 'em all close to the camera and get 'em to shout real loud, it'll look like a mass movement on the 6 o'clock news.

[brbethke]

She can't be feeling *that* scared. Otherwise it would occur to her that this event is presenting a really good, bunched up, herd of "soft targets" to all those crazy, whacko, gun-totin' right-wingers out there.

I mean, if she was *really* scared, wouldn't she want to duck down, take cover, and assume a low profile?

[goldstategop]

Liberals *feel* Tim Pawlenty has opened hunting season on them. ;-)

[brbethke]

I would never shoot anything that I wouldn't eat.

[jdege]

I've had more than ten pro-carry folks tell me they intended to show up, just to keep an eye on what's happening.

[Puppage]

My email to the "repealconceal" website...

"This law permits almost anyone, including non-Minnesotans, to carry a concealed loaded handgun almost anywhere in the state."

Ah, any LAW ABIDING citizen, there chief.

"Sheriffs may not deny an permit to somebody who has been acquitted of a crime. (This and the above provision mean that someone like O.J. Simpson could come to Minnesota and carry a concealed gun.) "

And, MAYBE if his DEAD WIFE HAD a permit, SHE'D BE ALIVE!!!

I suppose you'd rely on the police to protect you???

In that case.....you must be all for ridding one's home of fire extinquishers? After all...WON'T THE FIRE DEPT SAVE YOU, hmmm?

Just what are you defenseless, uninformed people afraid of? Why is EVERY city with strict gun control have a HIGHER murder rate, rape, and aggrivated assault, than those that ALLOW CCW?

If you or a loved one were being vicously attacked & I had my gun.....would you want me to to intervene? Or, would you rather I was armed with a cell phone so I could call those policemen you seem to think will come & save you?

[brbethke]

Maybe one should take a camcorder, so we can get some good "alternate" media footage.

[jdege]

Recording and publishing what they actually say can prove very embarrassing to them...

[ServesURight]

I hope Kim Stanley has a big set of lungs to scream for help.

She's gonna need them when a mugger or rapist attacks her.

[jdogbearhunter]

MN is besieged with rattlebrained liberals, led by Morghanne Q.E. Wolfe-Slattery, Euphorian.

[jdege]

Hey! I like Morghanne!

Morghanne's Euphorian Tag

[ought-six]

What do you expect from the People's Socialist Republic of Minnesota? My God, this is the state that gave us Paul Wellstone and Walter Mondale, two of the biggest socialists in American history!

[RJL]

I've had more than ten pro-carry folks tell me they intended to show up, just to keep an eye on what's happening.

Has any meeting spot been picked for the MPPA supporters?

[jdege]

Not that I'm aware of.