----- Original Message -----

The gun control folk are blasting out this email from their constituencies. I've received over 20 in the last 90 minutes.

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>>> Jennifer Schara <@bitlaw.com> 3/10/2009 10:47 AM >>>
I am writing today to urge you to support H.F. 953/S.F. 1165, which would finally close the loophole in Minnesota law that provides a legal way for people disqualified from owning a pistol or assault weapon to buy one, no questions asked. [Not so, see 624.7141] This bill deserves a hearing.

The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association supports H.F. 953/S.F. 1165. [Not according to MCPA staff.] Recent news reports have shown that Mexican drug cartels are getting high-powered firearms [5.56, 7.62x39 ???]from the loosely-regulated American market -- including unlicensed sellers -- and using them to assassinate police officials. [Mexican authorities refuse to disclose serial numbers so can't verify this claim.] It is naive to think this can't happen here, where gangs have easy access to pistols and assault weapons through legal avenues. [And even EASIER access through their local drug dealer.]

I urge you to support H.F. 953/S.F. 1165. We know that Twin Cities gangs have received trafficked guns from private sales in Pillager, MN [one] ; that the Hennepin County Government Center shooter got her gun at a gun show with no background check required [one]; and that in-state Internet sales of pistols and assault weapons are occurring with no background checks [How do they "know"?].

H.F. 953 is not gun registration [DPS can order records kept forever.], and no qualified person would be denied the ability to buy a gun because of this bill.

H.F. 953 would require anyone buying a pistol or assault weapon to pass a background check, not just those individuals who purchase through a federally licensed dealer. A report from the ATF found that the second leading source of weapons recovered in illegal gun trafficking investigations were gun shows, and that 22,500 guns in one 17-month period were trafficked through unlicensed sellers [Average number of guns involved in a single investigation was 130. These were NOT private sales between friends].

Please [swallow our lies and] stand up for our police and for public safety by supporting HF 953.

[emphasis added by Kimberman]

I just sent the managing partner of Bitlaw a letter saying I resented his corporation allowing staff to use their email as an endorsement of a political scare tactic.

Here's the addy, dtysver@bitlaw.com Daniel Tysver is the managing partner.


Mr Tysver,

I just received an email from Ms Jennifer Schara at your firm who is using your corporate Email for personal, and political use. This email was in concern of a Minn House bill which has nothing to do with your line of work. I find it offensive to be targeted by her email which are by default, insinuating that your firm supports this bill.

As a patent holder, and one who is looking at a future patent, I will not contact your firm for any of my pending legal work as I find this use of company features as less than professional, and less than ethical.

Signed.

good for you!

Dear ... :

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding SF 1165. I believe listening to my constituents is one of the most important jobs I have here at the Capitol. The firearm background check bill is an important issue to me and I appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns.

Under current law in Minnesota, background checks are required when a gun is bought from a sporting goods store or any other federally licensed dealer, but gun sales involving unlicensed dealers are exempt. An estimated 40 percent of firearms sales involve buyers whose backgrounds have not been checked by unlicensed dealers at gun shows, in newspaper and Internet ads, and through private sales.

The proposed legislation aims to keep guns out of the wrong hands and would not prevent law-abiding citizens from purchasing firearms. Senate File 1165 requires background checks for all gun sales to ensure handguns and assault weapons are not sold to criminals and other prohibited purchasers.

The bill was sent to the Judiciary Committee, of which I am a member. I look forward to hearing the testimony. Again, thank you for contacting me.

Cordially,

Senator Linda Higgins
Proudly Representing Downtown and North Minneapolis

I wrote back offering a counterpoint to her assertion that this will not prevent law-abiding citizens from purchasing firearms, explaining that the extra costs will make the situation arduous. And criminals won't follow their new procedures any better than they follow other laws.
BB

If anybody can assist Mr. Tysver by getting him a copy of the original email -- complete with headers -- I think that would be a good thing.

I'd like a copy, too; my curiosity is piqued.

Same here. I'm a bored IT guy.

Sign me up for the IT job that's boring.