MINNESOTA CONCEALED CARRY BILL RIDES LEGISLATIVE SEE-SAW

April 30, 2005--After Minnesota's 2003 shall-issue concealed carry bill was ruled unconstitutional by a state high court, supporters introduced a new stand-alone version of the bill. (See Minnesota Court Of Appeals Rules Concealed Carry Law Unconstitutional).

With the state having over a year of experience with a shall-issue system, and with objections from law enforcement officials muted, supporters and opponents of the re-enacted bill predicted easy passage.

On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson said that he intended to have an up-or-down vote on the bill, and not hold it up in committee.

"The issue perhaps is not as volatile as we thought last year,'' said Johnson (DFL-Willmar), who opposed the bill in 2003. "I don't think the problems have played out as predicted.''

Sheriff Steve Borchardt, head of the state sheriff's association, proposed some revisions to the bill, including allowing sheriffs to ask more questions about an applicant's background.

Overall, though, Sheriff Borchardt was pleased with the law. "The fact is the sky didn't fall,'' he told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "The fact is it worked pretty seamlessly.''

Later on Wednesday, though, the bipartisan spirit in the legislature began to fray.

House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) had counted on an up-or-down vote on the bill in the Senate in the 2005 session, and said that he had reached a handshake agreement with Senate Majority Leader Johnson.

By evening, Johnson told Sviggum that the bill would go through a committee, and be open to amendments.

Supporters of the bill, including sponsor Represenative Larry Howes (R-Walker) resisted making any changes to the bill.

The sudden change in tide prompted Speaker Sviggum to consider postponing a vote on the bill until next year.

"Do I want to take four or five hours on the House floor to bring forward a bill that I have great concerns and great anxiety about what the Senate will do with it?'' said Sviggum.

Members of Minnesota's Concealed Carry Reform Now organization are continuing to pressure Senate Majority Leader Johnson to keep his promises.

Tim Grant, of Minnesota's CCRN, wrote in an email to supporters, "Earlier today I sent out some pretty tough words for Sen. Johnson. Needless to say Sen. Johnson and I had a candid and frank conversation regarding re-passage of the MPPA. Sen. Johnson continues to hold his position that a floor vote will be taken on re-passage. I hope he is correct."

While the turmoil goes on in the state legislature, the Minnesota State Attorney General's Office intends to appeal the ruling of the Court of Appeals to the State Supreme Court.

 

   
 

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