Relax ND resrictions to CCW permit!

[Nickotym]

I am wondering if any fellow North Dakotans would be willing to help get the CCW restrictions on place we cannot carry relaxed. If willing to help or spearhead such a movement, please let me know my PMing or posting here. I will be posting this on other gun sites as well.


I hope to see the following changes to the law:
(Changes in bold)


62.1-02-05. Possession of a firearm at a public gathering -- Penalty
Application.
1. A person who possesses a firearm at a public gathering is guilty of a class B
misdemeanor. For the purpose of this section, "public gathering" includes
athletic or sporting events, schools or school functions, churches or church
functions, political rallies or functions, musical concerts, and individuals in
publicly owned parks where hunting is not allowed by proclamation and
publicly owned or operated buildings.

2. This section does not apply to law enforcement officers; members of the
armed forces of the United States or national guard, organized reserves,
state defense forces, or state guard organizations, when on duty;
competitors participating in organized sport shooting events; gun and
antique shows; participants using blank cartridge firearms at sporting or
theatrical events; any firearms carried in a temporary residence or motor
vehicle; students and instructors at hunter safety classes; persons licensed to carry a concealed weapon in ND; or private security
personnel while on duty.
3. This section does not prevent any political subdivision from enacting an
ordinance which is less restrictive than this section relating to the possession
of firearms at a public gathering. Such an ordinance supersedes this section
within the jurisdiction of the political subdivision.

 

[WonderNine]

I'm in! I am against all restrictions, but realistically, we need to get CCW in our public parks at the very least!!!

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

I'm surprised ND is so anti-gun on this issue. I lived in North Dakota for almost 14 years and even the Democrats there were pro-2nd Amendment.

 

[WonderNine]

Democrat Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad both voted for the "Assault Weapons Ban". Of course I got plenty of flyers in the mail during the last congressional election of Dem. Rep. Earl Pomeroy hangin' with the hunters and he's another shmuck who voted for the AWB.

http://www.awbansunset.com/house_nd.html

I emailed the Republican challenger in the upcoming elections a week ago asking him about his stand on 2nd Amendment issues and never received a response. They don't even want to talk about it.

I think most of the problem is that there's no economy here and half the people are employed by the state.

CCW is really easy to get and we're shall issue of course, but the not being able to carry in public parks really, really irks me. I didn't even realize that was the law until a few weeks ago.

ND is REALLY a hugely pro-gun state, but I'm starting to wake up to the fact that the powers that be here are NOT very pro-gun. We don't even have open carry here really, but it's not like you're gonna get hassled carrying a gun out in the middle of nowhere. The only reason they haven't had much luck getting their agenda through is because the crime rate is so low here.

Nobody likes Pomeroy. People at the state offices even make fun of him, but the morons keep voting for him, because they can't stand to have an evil republican in there.

Come to think of it Republican Governor John Hoeven isn't real popular these days either. I should walk across the street to the gov's mansion and knock on the door and tell whoever answers that I wanna talk to the governor about the AWB. See how far I get!!!

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

It always struck me that the reason a Republican state like ND keeps sending Democrats to Washington is because most of the Republicans picked to run for Congress are even bigger horses asses than the Dems. Remember that old gal they ran against Dorgan last time around (or was it two times ago?)? Rosemary something--I went to school with her son. Anyway, she was a walking definition of the word "befuddled." I think the problem is that there are a bunch of spoiled rich kids running the Republican party in ND and they are completely out of touch with the populace. Between going to college at UND for 7 years (I went through the Masters program) and working at a daily paper in Dickinson for a year, I got to meet most of them, and my impression wasn't good. Not that I though any more of Conrad, Dorgan, or Pomeroy, but given the arrogant sleazeballs the Republicans keep throwing out--mostly the kids of people to whom other people owe favors--I'm not surprised the Dems keep getting re-elected.

The ND Republican party is ripe for a grass roots takeover. You guys could do some serious good by wrestling control of the party from the feudal lords who own it now and sending some decent, upstanding people to Washington.

 

[Nickotym]

North Dakota is pretty conservative for the most part. As everywhere else, the cities skew toward the liberal side, mostly because of the colleges. I think the reason we keep electing Republican Governors and Democrat Congress people is be cause we like the pork that our "fine" congress people seem to send home.

I have been in touch with Duane Sand (running against Pomeroy) and Mike Liffrig (running against Dorgan) earlier in the campaign by email and both assure me they are strong Second Amendment supporters. Sand served in the military and states he believes in the right to self defense.

Here is Liffrig's response I got about the 2A:

Mike is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment. He sent in an NRA questionnaire that will surely earn an "A" rating.

Thank you for asking. We are clearly the better choice for advocates of 2nd Amendment rights.

Jon Zahm
Campaign Manager
Liffrig for Senate

 

[Nickotym]

BTT

Anyone? Bueller?

 

[atek3]

ND and SD are heavily dependant on Ag subsidies. Although repugnicans are just as bad as Democrats on the issue so it is wierd that the dakota's slant Democrat.

ate3k

 

[WonderNine]

It's kind of been middle of the road here at the college, but most of my professors have been pretty conservative. The glaring examples being the Rush Limbaugh wannabe political professor I had and the Lassez-faire capitalist/militant nationalist I had for Economics/History. Another history professor was pretty moderate/middle of the road. Had a couple somewhat liberal biology teachers.

 

[Nickotym]

Bump to top one more time. Anyone willing to help?

Wonder9: PM sent.

 

[Pebcac]

I noticed that in Section 3, they've passed the buck to the counties and municipalities on relaxing those restrictions, I'm sure in the name of greater local control. That being the case, the legislature won't likely agree to removing that control.

Beats allowing them to tighten restrictions, though. Personally, I think it's retarded that the only places regularly restricted in such laws are bars, churches, and publicly-owned places. Don't I have as much right to walk in that park as the next guy? Isn't a highway a public place, too? Why restrict me in the park where someone might jump me, but not on my neighborhood sidewalk, also a publicly-owned place where someone might jump me?

Good luck!

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

It looks like I spent over a decade regularly breaking North Dakota's gun laws without even knowing I was doing anything wrong.

 

[pesticidal]

This has bugged me, too. What have you got in mind?

 

[NORM]

what would be the route to get a change going?
get a legislator to write a amendment, signatures on a petition, and on a ballot in the future?
just a question...i wouldn't know.

 

[Nickotym]

Thanks for the responses guys. The deadline for a petition ballot is next Tuesday, so getting an initiative on the ballot is out of the question for this fall. I think a better route would be to find a legislator willing to sponsor a bill to amend the law next session which starts in January. I have not yet had a chance to feel my reps out yet, and one is up for reelection. He is a strong Republican who I agree with on other issues, but am not sure about his 2 Amendment stance.

I would like to work with a group like ND Shooting Sports Association, but have not gotten anything back by email. need to call them and see if they have any interest in supporting this. At their website they have a section about the current carry law so I would think they would be willing to expand it. NDSSA

I have also thought about adding provision to the proposed bill to allow for open carry with or without a permit. Right now if you open carry without a permit you have to have the gun unloaded unless on your own land. Not sure if there would be much interest or resistance to the open carry change.

Using the format you see on the state website for bills, I wouldn't think it would be hard to write it. I just need to find out which legislators are pro-gun enough to sponsor it.

I think I will write up a sample bill and then talk to NDSSA. If any of you know of legislators who would be good to talk to let me know.

Edited to add: If we can't get it to pass, an initiative would be good for the next statewide ballot, but that wouldn't be until fall of 2006 or so.

 

[Country Boy]

I've always thought the "public gathering" restriction in our state was a bunch of bull. It just forces otherwise law abiding people make a tough decision.

 

[pesticidal]

I live in Fargo. I'd be willing to meet with whoever could make it for a planning meeting somewhere over a couple beers.

 

[Nickotym]

I am over in Cooperstown and don't get to Fargo as often as I would like, but once the ball gets rolling would be willing to get a meeting together. I sent an email to NDSSA President o'Connell yesterday, will see what he has to say in a few days. If I haven't heard from him by email by Monday I will try calling him. While it is too late to get anything on a ballot initiative, it may be a good idea to do a petition to show the legislators how much support the aforementioned changes have.

 

[Nickotym]

I completely agree with Country Boy. While I don't have much fear of an attack in church, it would be nice to be able to keep my CCW on then instead of leaving it in the car or at home.

BTW how is academy going Country Boy?

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

Good luck to you. Keep us posted on your progress, and try to get reciprocity with Minnesota. It would be nice to be able to not have to unload my gun if decide to drive through Grand Forks on the way to my dad's farm in NW Minnesota.

 

[Nickotym]

Unfortunately I think reciprocity between MN and ND is something that the MN side needs to work on. ND has reciprocity with MT and SD and would be willing to do so with MN, but MN has to be willing. As the new law stood before the court case MN's standards are too strict for reciprocity. Hopefully after the dust settles in a couple of years the MN legislature can fix the reciprocity provisions in their law.

 

[WonderNine]

Yea, that really bites not having reciprocity with MN.

 

[Nickotym]

Bringing back to top to see if there is still interest. I will be looking into this a bit more after the elections.

Thanks all,

 

[Nickotym]

Resurrect this thread!

I am going to resurrect this thread as I am working a bit with the North Dakota Shooting Sports Association www.ndssa.org to get this pushed through. I will try to keep you posted through this thread and ask for calls to ND senators and representatives when needed.

Here is the Bill I would like to see introduced:
(Changes in bold)

A Bill for an act to amend and reenact section 62.1-02-05 of North Dakota Century Code relating to concealed weapron permit restrictions.



62.1-02-05. Possession of a firearm at a public gathering -- Penalty
Application.
1. A person who possesses a firearm at a public gathering is guilty of a class B
misdemeanor. For the purpose of this section, "public gathering" includes
athletic or sporting events, schools or school functions, churches or church
functions, political rallies or functions, musical concerts, and individuals in
publicly owned parks where hunting is not allowed by proclamation and
publicly owned or operated buildings.

2. This section does not apply to law enforcement officers; members of the
armed forces of the United States or national guard, organized reserves,
state defense forces, or state guard organizations, when on duty;
competitors participating in organized sport shooting events; gun and
antique shows; participants using blank cartridge firearms at sporting or
theatrical events; any firearms carried in a temporary residence or motor
vehicle; students and instructors at hunter safety classes; persons licensed to carry a concealed weapon in ND; or private security personnel while on duty.
3. This section does not prevent any political subdivision from enacting an
ordinance which is less restrictive than this section relating to the possession
of firearms at a public gathering. Such an ordinance supersedes this section
within the jurisdiction of the political subdivision.

 

[pesticidal]

Is there a proposed bill in process? I know there is a Senator that is looking at introducing one that would involved keeping the CCW owner's names more private. Maybe they could be tied together.