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from the Minneapolis Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3762513.html
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3762513.html
Handgun bill gets a hearing -- and new rival -- in SenateConrad deFiebre, Star Tribune
Published March 18, 2003 GUNS18
As the Senate on Monday held its first hearing ever on relaxing Minnesota handgun laws, leaders of the DFL majority switched their strategy for countering the Republican proposal that already is moving through the GOP-controlled House.
Like the Republican proposal, a bill introduced by Sen. Jim Vickerman, DFL-Tracy, would strip police chiefs and sheriffs of most discretion they now have in issuing permits to carry handguns to law-abiding, mentally competent adults. This is a key provision as well of the rival Senate bill sponsored by Sen. Pat Pariseau, R-Farmington.
But Vickerman's bill, modeled after Texas law, also would tighten eligibility rules and mark certain places off-limits to guns far beyond anything Pariseau has offered.
The two bills were to be heard side-by-side Monday. Pariseau, however, objected on procedural grounds, likely delaying Vickerman's initial hearing until next week.
Pariseau's bill took the stage alone after DFLers withdrew another sponsored by Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, that mimics many of her proposals but would leave discretion for permits in the hands of local authorities.
After seven years of blocking Senate action on handguns, DFL leaders "decided to go in a different direction," Murphy said. "Something has to pass, and they figure the Vickerman bill is better than Pariseau's.
Murphy said that his own bill probably could not pass the Senate, but that Vickerman's might.
No votes were taken Monday in the Senate Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee. But with at least one Republican member -- Sen. Mike McGinn of Eagan, a former St. Paul police commander -- voicing opposition to the Pariseau bill, it appeared unlikely to pass the panel.
2 hours of testimony
More than two hours of testimony Monday was dominated by criticism from school, police, business, medical, church and local government groups.
"We cannot conceive of any situations where our employees, visitors, customers or patrons would feel safer knowing guns were prevalent in our marketplace," said Sam Grabarski, president of the Minneapolis Downtown Council. "How would the Holidazzle Parades be safer for families with concealed handguns present?"
The Rev. Stan Sledz said the state's Roman Catholic bishops oppose the bill because it would endorse the idea that "it's OK to use a gun to resolve conflicts" and "feed the fear that paralyzes our communities."
Support for the bill came from two long-time handgun rights activists and from Joe DeSua of Apple Valley, who said he was denied a handgun permit because "my personal safety seems to be of no importance" to authorities.
Committee chairman Leo Foley, DFL-Coon Rapids, said the hearing will continue Wednesday with senators questioning witnesses. No vote will be taken until Vickerman's proposal can be considered, Foley added.
Vickerman's bill would bar anyone convicted of or charged with any crime, including misdemeanors, from getting a handgun permit. Pariseau's bill -- as well as the House companion sponsored by Rep. Lynda Boudreau, R-Faribault, which has cleared two committees -- would make those facing charges or convicted of many misdemeanors eligible.
In addition, Vickerman proposes prohibiting permit holders from bringing their guns to bars, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, government meetings and polling places. The Pariseau-Boudreau bill would specifically bar guns only from schools.
John Caile of Concealed Carry Reform Now, Minnesota's leading handgun-rights group, said the Vickerman bill rated "an F-minus."
Conrad deFiebre is at [email protected].
© Copyright 2003 Star Tribune.