SENATE DISTRICT 42
REPUBLICANS
REPRESENTING EDEN PRAIRIE AND SOUTHERN MINNETONKA

Wake up and start paying attention
by Maria Ruud, Minnetonka

The recent letter to the editor by the writer encouraging those against the new gun law to avoid businesses and establishments that fail to post a ”no guns permitted” sign is right on. If you are not outraged by what has been going on in the political world, from irresponsible gun laws, to irresponsible tax cuts, then, as the bumper sticker says, “you're not paying attention.”

If you know the names of the contestants on “American Idol” or “The Bachelor,” but don't know what the names of your representatives and how they voted on key issues that will affect your life and the lives of your children and grandchildren then be prepared to accept the changes, however grim, that are taking place in the world in which you live. Now is the time to become informed, find your voice and use it and vote with your feet if necessary.

Right-to-carry legislation means less crime
By Peter Bozanich, Eden Prairie

I am writing in response to the February 20 letter by Lisa and Erik Stene attacking the currently proposed right-to-carry legislation. In their letter, they make several claims. Some of their claims are designed to scare people (“...significant and frightening safety risk for our children”). Some of their claims are red herrings (“our community has hired the Eden Prairie Police Department to ensure our safety”). And some of their claims are just plain false (“More guns in our community will translate into more shootings”).

The biggest lie currently being perpetuated by the anti-gun lobby is that banning guns leads to less crime. That is pure nonsense. In fact, the complete opposite is true.

According to Chicago University professor John Lott, crime actually fell in states that enact right-to-carry legislation between 1977 and 1992. They saw fewer robberies, fewer rapes and fewer aggravated assaults. Murder dropped by a whopping 8%.

The reasons for this are many.

First of all, one characteristic of criminals is that they do not tend to follow laws. They already conceal and carry! It is law abiding citizens who suffer when anti-gun laws are passed.

Second, it's a violent world out there and the police are not personal bodyguards. Department of Justice statistics reveal that police can only get to a crime scene within 5 minutes only 28 percent of the time. Yet, according to the FBI, a violent crime is committed somewhere in America every 22 seconds.

Third, there are several requirements before you can get a permit. You have to be a citizen of the state, you cannot be convicted of certain crimes, you cannot have a history of mental illness. And, most important, you have to be trained. No one in Minnesota gets a permit to carry a handgun without proper training.

This idea that law abiding citizens will suddenly be turned into homicidal maniacs is not only insulting, but it's totally contradicted by the real world. In Florida, for example, almost half a million permits were issued between October 1987 and December 1997. Yet only .018% of those people had those permits revoked.

You might be surprised to discover that 33 states already have right-to-carry laws -- a majority. If these laws work in such places as Alaska, Hawaii, Texas, Nevada and Florida, why does the anti-gun lobby feel that they will not work here?

One last point: If Lisa and Erik Stene do not like guns, I have a suggestion for them: don't own a gun. That is what freedom is all about. But you should not have the right to make that decision for the rest of us. Responsible gun ownership leads to safer streets, safer homes, and safer families.

Please let your legislators know you support right-to-carry legislation.