OF THE PEOPLE: Gun law turns 1 year old
BY JIM RAGSDALE
Pioneer Press
David Haagensen drives to work with his gun on the seat next to him, and he says it came in handy one night a few weeks ago.
Haagensen, attending one of two competing events Wednesday that commemorated the passage of the state's new gun law, said he foiled an attempted carjacking as he was on his way to work the late shift at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
"I pointed it at his head, because he was trying to open my locked door, and he was pointing a gun at me,'' he said. "He ran away. I drove to work and called the cops.''
Minneapolis police confirmed that Haagensen reported the April 9 incident and that they are investigating.
Haagensen added his voice to an enthusiastic gathering on the steps of the state Capitol. With congratulatory speeches, a "Happy Birthday'' sing-along and even a birthday cake, concealed-weapons enthusiasts celebrated Gov. Tim Pawlenty's signing of the bill one year ago — on April 28, 2003. It took effect a month later.
Across the street from the pro-gun group, a smaller gaggle of opponents of the law held their own more somber event, saying the new law is a mistake.
Kate Krisik of the Minnesota Catholic Conference said
the law "fuels our existing cult of violence with encouraging individuals to respond to violence, or threats of violence, with violence.''
The bill eliminated the requirement that people demonstrate an occupational need or a public safety threat in order to legally carry a loaded weapon in public places. Under the new law, those who clear background checks and meet training requirements must be granted a permit.
At the end of 2003, after about a half-year under the new law, there were 15,677 permits in effect, according to the Department of Public Safety. While that is a substantial increase from the 12,780 permits active at the end of 2002, it is far less than opponents of the new law predicted.
Haagensen said he lives in Minnetonka and drives to work at odd hours. Speaking of the gun-control gathering, he said, "I don't know how real it is for some of those people over there. … But three to five times a week, I drive through one of the worst neighborhoods in Minneapolis to get to work.''
Signs in the pro-gun crowd were blunt. "It's a Shame Dru Sjodin Didn't Have a Concealed Carry Weapon,'' read a double-sided sign carried by Walt Edin, a truck driver from Upsala. The other side of his sign bore a picture of the World Trade towers and read: "If Pilots Had Been Armed, We Wouldn't Need to Remember the Towers.''
Edin said he applied for and received a permit but has never actually carried the weapon in public. "I got my permit, because it's legal, and I can, and so far, I've never carried,'' he said.
"Not everybody has to carry,'' he said. "But some of them do, and the perpetrators don't know who is and who isn't. It makes everybody safer.''
Cedric Scofield of Newport, who is retired, said he does not have a permit but came because of his support for shooting sports. Scofield, who has long been active in third-party politics in Minnesota, said, "It's a basic issue of liberty for me — liberty and freedom that was there before our country was founded. We should be allowed to protect ourselves.''
Pro-gun supporters shouted "That's right!'' and "Give 'em the facts!'' when friendly legislators spoke, including Rep. Lynda Boudreau, R-Faribault, the bill's sponsor. "It is conclusive that the positive value of firearms, and their use, far outweighs the negative misuse,'' Boudreau said. Gun-control activists were more somber. "We are here to observe a solemn anniversary,'' said Rev. James Erlandson of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in St. Paul. He added, "This law does not reflect what the state is about.''
Oliver White, minister at Grace Community United Church of Christ in St. Paul, noted the two events took place near a Capitol area street named after Martin Luther King Jr. "This is a drive where we should celebrate peace — not sing 'Happy Birthday' to violence," he said.
White, who is African-American, said the new law is based on fear. "Who are they pointing those guns at?'' he asked. "What is the fear factor? Who are they afraid of? Well, me — people who look like me.''
Daniel Webster of Minneapolis said he has hopes the new law can eventually be repealed. He said while there have been no overt incidents involving new permit-carriers, the new law creates unnecessary risks.
"Someone with a gun, they could be an honest, everyday citizen, but all it takes is one bad incident to turn that tide,'' Webster said. "And that bad incident could be at a park, where other people's kids are at. The law protects someone to have a loaded gun at a park, with other people's kids.''
THE GUN LAW
Wednesday was the first anniversary of Gov. Pawlenty's signing of the gun law. The law:
Eliminates the requirement that people demonstrate an occupational need or a public safety threat in order to legally carry a loaded weapon in public places.
Requires businesses to post large signs if they don't want permit-holders bringing weapons onto the premises.
Has increased the number of permits in effect, but not nearly as much as some predicted. According to the state, there were 15,677 permits in effect at the end of 2003, compared to 12,780 at the end of 2002.
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Jim Ragsdale covers state government and politics and can be contacted at
[email protected] or 651-228-5529.
