Nothing to worry about

by Joel Rosenberg
4-Jul-2007

Something not to worry about

I read this on another instructor's website recently: "Get Grand Fathered (sic) in now that the anti-gun guys are back in office!"*

Sheesh.

There's one thing right with it: with gun issues off the table during the last election, the 2006 Minnesota state elections put a lot of pro-carry Republicans — and a few pro-carry DFLers — out of office. I don't think that the 2003 or 2005 carry reform bills would go through the legislature; both Speaker Sullivan in the House and Majority Leader Pogemiller in the Senate were virulently anti-reform, and I doubt that either of them would let it come to the floor for a vote.

So, worry, because the Personal Protection Act is about to be repealed, and get your permit and get grandfathered in now, right?

Well, no. Look: I think my record on encouraging people to get carry permits is pretty clear. Get your carry permit if you don't have one? Sure. Don't put it off? Yup; better to have it and not need it than the other way around. But run out and get it because "the anti-gun guys are back in office" (even without the gratuitious exclamation point) and you need to be — or, for that matter, can be — grandfathered in?

Nah.

Let's count the things wrong with that:

It's not 2003 or 2005; the Personal Protection Act doesn't have to pass; it just has to not be repealed.

Not only wasn't it repealed this last session, but there wasn't even a vote on repealing it on the floor of the House or Senate.

Not only wasn't there a vote on the floor, but no repeal bill came out of any committee in either the House or the Senate.

Not only did no repeal bill come out of any committee in either the House or the Senate, but no repeal bill was even submitted this session — not even by the most virulently anti-reform folks, like Nora Slawik.

Not only was no repeal bill even submitted this session — not even by the most virulently anti-reform folks, like Nora Slawik — but no repeal amendment was so much as introduced to any bill by anyone.

Beyond that, is there any reason to think that if the carry law was repealed, present permits would still be valid? (The answer, in case you're wondering, is: no. But see above: is there anything to worry about?)

Sure: get your permit if you don't already have it; I'd be happy to have you in one of my classes.

But don't do it out of panic.

Take a look outside; the sky isn't falling.

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*I'm not going to name him. He's a nice enough guy, I guess, and I'm sure he mostly means well, more or less, but, sheesh . . .

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Last modified Friday, 04-Apr-2008 12:01:00 PDT.