Desertdog
Member
I wish more LEOs would be this honest.
82 Dakota County citizens apply for gun permits on first day
Posted: 5/30/03
by Laura Adelmann
Thisweek Newspapers
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/920358/posts
Some people have apparently been counting the minutes for Minnesota’s new conceal and carry law to go into effect.
By the stroke of midnight Tuesday, citizens began approaching the Dakota County Sheriff’s office to apply for permits allowing each to carry a concealed gun in public.
“We only accept applications during business hours,†explained Dakota County Sheriff Don Gudmundson, who added that there were about 12 people waiting to get their permit about 20 minutes before offices opened Wednesday morning.
By closing time, Gudmundson reported 82 people had applied for permits in Dakota County.
Gudmundson said the county would have had more applicants, but the inability to get training has created a bottleneck in the system.
To qualify for a permit, applicants must first pass a firearms safety class, like those offered by the National Rifle Association. (More information about classes is listed online at www.nra.org.)
The majority of those in the permit line right away, said Gudmundson, were “middle-aged white guys.â€
“I don’t believe any of the people in line are going to need it — I think they have a better chance of winning the Power Ball. But, I am quick to acknowledge that I have no fear of any of those people carrying a gun,†he said.
However, he does have a problem with portions of the law that he said could allow people who have been convicted of disorderly conduct, trespassing or window-peeping of getting a permit.
“I don’t want to hold it forever over their head, but it seems to me somebody could be convicted of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct and get a permit, so I just don’t know about that,†said Gudmundson.
Comparing the new permit holders to rookie cops, Gudmundson predicted most would not carry a concealed weapon beyond the first few weeks of getting their permit, when the novelty wears off.
“I know of no cop in Dakota County who carries a gun off-duty and the reason for it is that guns are cold, they’re hot and they’re heavy, hard to conceal,†he said.
Gun permits could be expected within 20 to 30 working days of the application date.
“At first, just by the sheer numbers of them, we would not be able to issue them any quicker than 30 days,†said Gudmundson.
Laura Adelmann is at [email protected].
82 Dakota County citizens apply for gun permits on first day
Posted: 5/30/03
by Laura Adelmann
Thisweek Newspapers
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/920358/posts
Some people have apparently been counting the minutes for Minnesota’s new conceal and carry law to go into effect.
By the stroke of midnight Tuesday, citizens began approaching the Dakota County Sheriff’s office to apply for permits allowing each to carry a concealed gun in public.
“We only accept applications during business hours,†explained Dakota County Sheriff Don Gudmundson, who added that there were about 12 people waiting to get their permit about 20 minutes before offices opened Wednesday morning.
By closing time, Gudmundson reported 82 people had applied for permits in Dakota County.
Gudmundson said the county would have had more applicants, but the inability to get training has created a bottleneck in the system.
To qualify for a permit, applicants must first pass a firearms safety class, like those offered by the National Rifle Association. (More information about classes is listed online at www.nra.org.)
The majority of those in the permit line right away, said Gudmundson, were “middle-aged white guys.â€
“I don’t believe any of the people in line are going to need it — I think they have a better chance of winning the Power Ball. But, I am quick to acknowledge that I have no fear of any of those people carrying a gun,†he said.
However, he does have a problem with portions of the law that he said could allow people who have been convicted of disorderly conduct, trespassing or window-peeping of getting a permit.
“I don’t want to hold it forever over their head, but it seems to me somebody could be convicted of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct and get a permit, so I just don’t know about that,†said Gudmundson.
Comparing the new permit holders to rookie cops, Gudmundson predicted most would not carry a concealed weapon beyond the first few weeks of getting their permit, when the novelty wears off.
“I know of no cop in Dakota County who carries a gun off-duty and the reason for it is that guns are cold, they’re hot and they’re heavy, hard to conceal,†he said.
Gun permits could be expected within 20 to 30 working days of the application date.
“At first, just by the sheer numbers of them, we would not be able to issue them any quicker than 30 days,†said Gudmundson.
Laura Adelmann is at [email protected].