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Bloomington police chief concerned about gun law
By Harvey T. Rockwood
Sun Newspapers
(Created 5/8/03 9:24:28 AM)
Count Bloomington Police Chief John Laux among the skeptics when it comes to the new “concealed carry†handgun measure that became state law last week.
The legislation, which takes effect later this month, requires law enforcement agencies to issue most citizens permits to carry hidden firearms. To Laux, that could lead to myriad troubles for officers.
Previously, permits to carry handguns were issued at the discretion of the heads of local law enforcement agencies. Proponents of the new law complained that the permits were issued in a haphazard, inconsistent fashion.
But in Bloomington, many who sought such permits were turned away. Last year, Bloomington police issued 38 concealed carry permits and 12 requests were turned down.
Over a five-year period ending in 2002, the department approved 188 permits and rejected 62, police records show. At least one state agency now estimates that roughly 2,400 Bloomington residents may seek concealed handgun permits, according to published reports.
Laux said his department will meet the requirements of the new law. But he has reservations.
“I am more than slightly concerned,†Bloomington’s police chief said.
“I hope I’m dead wrong,†Laux said in an interview last week. “Why do we want to roll the dice?â€
Among other things, Laux worries that state record keeping might not keep up with permit-holders’ status. For example, if a permit-holder commits a crime that invalidates the permit, will the appropriate agencies be notified?
More importantly, will an officer on the street be able to determine the status of a permit-holder stopped for a traffic violation?
“We can’t even keep track of sex offenders,†Laux said. “How are we going to keep track of these gun permits when it’s a much less visible thing.â€
He also suggested that counterfeit permits might turn up.
The law mandates a statewide data bank with updated information on permit-holders. But, Laux notes, that will depend on the efficiency of court officers and law enforcement agencies in each of Minnesota’s 87 counties to maintain current information.
Additionally, the new system will be based on the assumption that applicants will be truthful when seeking permits, he said.
The law names county sheriffs as the gate-keeper for concealed carry permits, but they may delegate that authority to local police chiefs. For his part, Laux isn’t interested in receiving that authority from Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan.
Bloomington officers already have plenty to do, Laux said.
He said he doubts that a record-keeping system will be ready when the new law takes effect.
“There’s a lot of things that have to be worked out,†Laux said. “…My suspicion is that it will be many months.â€
The chief also worries that disputes that once ended with family members trading fat lips and bloody noses will now erupt in gun violence, he said.
“We all lose our tempers,†Laux said. “We’ve all done things we later regret when we lose our temper. Now we’re going to give citizens the power to inflict lethal violence when they lose their tempersâ€
http://www.mnsun.com/story.asp?city=Bloomington&story=112464
By Harvey T. Rockwood
Sun Newspapers
(Created 5/8/03 9:24:28 AM)
Count Bloomington Police Chief John Laux among the skeptics when it comes to the new “concealed carry†handgun measure that became state law last week.
The legislation, which takes effect later this month, requires law enforcement agencies to issue most citizens permits to carry hidden firearms. To Laux, that could lead to myriad troubles for officers.
Previously, permits to carry handguns were issued at the discretion of the heads of local law enforcement agencies. Proponents of the new law complained that the permits were issued in a haphazard, inconsistent fashion.
But in Bloomington, many who sought such permits were turned away. Last year, Bloomington police issued 38 concealed carry permits and 12 requests were turned down.
Over a five-year period ending in 2002, the department approved 188 permits and rejected 62, police records show. At least one state agency now estimates that roughly 2,400 Bloomington residents may seek concealed handgun permits, according to published reports.
Laux said his department will meet the requirements of the new law. But he has reservations.
“I am more than slightly concerned,†Bloomington’s police chief said.
“I hope I’m dead wrong,†Laux said in an interview last week. “Why do we want to roll the dice?â€
Among other things, Laux worries that state record keeping might not keep up with permit-holders’ status. For example, if a permit-holder commits a crime that invalidates the permit, will the appropriate agencies be notified?
More importantly, will an officer on the street be able to determine the status of a permit-holder stopped for a traffic violation?
“We can’t even keep track of sex offenders,†Laux said. “How are we going to keep track of these gun permits when it’s a much less visible thing.â€
He also suggested that counterfeit permits might turn up.
The law mandates a statewide data bank with updated information on permit-holders. But, Laux notes, that will depend on the efficiency of court officers and law enforcement agencies in each of Minnesota’s 87 counties to maintain current information.
Additionally, the new system will be based on the assumption that applicants will be truthful when seeking permits, he said.
The law names county sheriffs as the gate-keeper for concealed carry permits, but they may delegate that authority to local police chiefs. For his part, Laux isn’t interested in receiving that authority from Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan.
Bloomington officers already have plenty to do, Laux said.
He said he doubts that a record-keeping system will be ready when the new law takes effect.
“There’s a lot of things that have to be worked out,†Laux said. “…My suspicion is that it will be many months.â€
The chief also worries that disputes that once ended with family members trading fat lips and bloody noses will now erupt in gun violence, he said.
“We all lose our tempers,†Laux said. “We’ve all done things we later regret when we lose our temper. Now we’re going to give citizens the power to inflict lethal violence when they lose their tempersâ€
http://www.mnsun.com/story.asp?city=Bloomington&story=112464
