The State Legislature is in the midst of considering a fundamental change to the way that local officials decide who may and who may not carry a concealed handgun. Citizens who want to carry a concealed handgun must request such a permit in order to legally carry a concealed handgun in this state. Under current law, County Sheriffs and City Police Chiefs have substantial discretion to grant what they refer to as “conceal & carry” permits. Under current law, a citizen must have a very good reason to get a permit. If a Sheriff or a Police Chief thinks that a citizen has no demonstrated need for a permit, they have the discretion to deny the request for any reason.
Under a proposal that has been adopted in the House and is scheduled for a vote in the Senate today, the tables get turned. Under the proposed legislation, the Sheriff or Police Chief must have a good reason to turn down a request for a conceal carry permit. In other words, the Sheriff or Police Chief must issue the permit unless there is a very good reason not to issue it. There are some criteria that can be used to deny a permit request, but the law is being changed to enable more concealed handgund permits to be issued, not less.
Some City Councils in Minnnesota have taken official positions on this legislation. Some have not. The Eden Prairie City Council has discussed the issue, discussed taking a position on the issue, but has not taken a position on the issue. Several citizens have encouraged the Council to take a position opposing the legislation. I encouraged the Council to refrain from taking an official position on the issue, at least as a corporate body. Councilmembers are alwayws welcome to take individual political positions on political issues of the day. They are elected officials and taking political positions on the issues of the day is what politicians ought to do.
I encouraged the Council to refrain from taking a position because I did not see the Council taking a position on this issue as being particularly influential to the state legislators who are charged under state law with making this decision. This is an issue of individual freedom and I think that state legislators are going to be more responsive to individuals on this issue. Also, this issue is a more appropriately discussed at the state government level. It is not an issue of local governance. A corporate position on this issue would feel intrusive to me, just as the state government taking a position on a local zoning issue would feel intrusive to me.
This is an issue that raises strong feelings. The resolution of this issue will make many people will be unhappy, regarless of how this issue is ultimately resolved. Our state legislators will have to be accountable for their votes on this issue. That’s how our system works.
