Drizzt
Member
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
June 7, 2003, Saturday, BC cycle
SECTION: State and Regional
LENGTH: 335 words
HEADLINE: 'Guns not welcome' signs to go up in Duluth
DATELINE: DULUTH, Minn.
BODY:
Signs saying "Guns not welcome here" will be posted all over Duluth in response to the state's new conceal-and-carry law.
Mayor Gary Doty approved the creation of the signs for all city buildings and recreation sites. The placards will be signed by the mayor.
"I wanted to make a statement," Doty said.
Duluth was one of several cities considering antigun signs to discourage people from bringing guns on city property. Other cities considering the signs include Mankato, Mendota Heights and Minnetonka.
The new law makes it much easier to obtain a concealed-weapon permit, and prevents most local governments from banning weapons on their property.
Duluth's signs "don't say you can't bring them. It just says they are not welcome," said Doty.
They also venture into unknown legal ground, said Bryan Brown, a city attorney.
The law says a city can't ban weapons, but the law is silent on whether communities can state a preference, Brown said. "The question is, what does the silence mean?"
The state attorney general's office wouldn't comment on the legal ramifications of Duluth's signs.
An author of the new concealed-carry legislation also wasn't sure about the legality of Duluth's signs.
"We'll have to see how this all plays out," said Sen. Pat Pariseau, R-Farmington. "But I don't know why Duluth would want to create a safe zone for criminals."
Duluth Police Chief Roger Waller said he agrees with the mayor's stand.
"Although the state law does not address city buildings, the mayor strongly believes - and I support that belief as police chief - that guns should not be in city buildings," Waller said.
No city in Minnesota has challenged the new concealed-carry law, but plenty are considering options to keep guns out of public buildings.
"This is a hot subject in council chambers," said Stephanie Lake of the League of Minnesota Cities in St. Paul. "Whether any city decides to do something remains to be seen. But we have been receiving quite a few calls."
June 7, 2003, Saturday, BC cycle
SECTION: State and Regional
LENGTH: 335 words
HEADLINE: 'Guns not welcome' signs to go up in Duluth
DATELINE: DULUTH, Minn.
BODY:
Signs saying "Guns not welcome here" will be posted all over Duluth in response to the state's new conceal-and-carry law.
Mayor Gary Doty approved the creation of the signs for all city buildings and recreation sites. The placards will be signed by the mayor.
"I wanted to make a statement," Doty said.
Duluth was one of several cities considering antigun signs to discourage people from bringing guns on city property. Other cities considering the signs include Mankato, Mendota Heights and Minnetonka.
The new law makes it much easier to obtain a concealed-weapon permit, and prevents most local governments from banning weapons on their property.
Duluth's signs "don't say you can't bring them. It just says they are not welcome," said Doty.
They also venture into unknown legal ground, said Bryan Brown, a city attorney.
The law says a city can't ban weapons, but the law is silent on whether communities can state a preference, Brown said. "The question is, what does the silence mean?"
The state attorney general's office wouldn't comment on the legal ramifications of Duluth's signs.
An author of the new concealed-carry legislation also wasn't sure about the legality of Duluth's signs.
"We'll have to see how this all plays out," said Sen. Pat Pariseau, R-Farmington. "But I don't know why Duluth would want to create a safe zone for criminals."
Duluth Police Chief Roger Waller said he agrees with the mayor's stand.
"Although the state law does not address city buildings, the mayor strongly believes - and I support that belief as police chief - that guns should not be in city buildings," Waller said.
No city in Minnesota has challenged the new concealed-carry law, but plenty are considering options to keep guns out of public buildings.
"This is a hot subject in council chambers," said Stephanie Lake of the League of Minnesota Cities in St. Paul. "Whether any city decides to do something remains to be seen. But we have been receiving quite a few calls."
