Eagen Rally Kicks Off Repeal Conceal Effort

Eagen, MN. June 30,2003

Chuck Handlon

Leading with chants of "Repeal Conceal, Repeal Conceal," State Representative Nora Slawik, DFL, Maplewood, fired up a crowd estimated to be 300-350 people at a rally in Eagen dedicated to initiating a statewide drive to repeal the new concealed carry handgun law. "We are here today to mark the one month anniversary of the concealed carry law going into place. Since then in the four metro counties of Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington 2200 permits have been requested. This group is pulling together to rally against this law, to tell Gov. Pawlenty, right here in his backyard, in Eagen, that we don't want this law and Gov. Pawlenty needs to listen to us !"

Rally organizer Kim Stanley of Bloomington claimed that about 7,000 names statewide had been collected on the Repeal Conceal petitions. SE MN Alliance of Peacemakers member Chuck Handlon presented petitions with over 900 names collected in the Rochester area. The signatures endorse a bill (HF 1595) introduced at the end of the session by Rep. Slawik to repeal the new law. State Senator Skoglund also introduced a companion bill (SF 1535). Supporters of this effort hope to build on the intial reaction to the law in an ongoing effort to collect at least 10,000 signatures by Sept. and push their legislative efforts in the next session.

The petition signatures endorse a bill (HF 1595) introduced at the end of the 2003 session by Rep. Slawik and a companion bill in the Senate (SF 1535) introduced by Senator Skoglund. Rep. Slawik stated there are 26 other cosponsors of the bills. Also attending the rally to show support were Rep. Connie Bernardie of Fridley and Senator Jane Ranum of Minneapolis.

There were four main speakers for the media press conference held just before the rally began. Rep. Slawik set the tone for the rally. Organizer Kim Stanley tearfully recounted the anxiety her five year old daughter expressed when she heard about the law. Chuck Handlon presented petitions collected from Rochester. The last speaker Cheryl Senechal of North Oaks, told the crowd she is a gun owner and previously worked in the "shooting sports industry". The self described "suburban working mom of a three year old" said this was the first time she had ever taken a stand on a public issue.

"This law will essentially 'deputize' an estimated 90,000 people (who get permits to carry) in the state to practice law enforcement with only 6 hours of training." Senechal explained how difficult it is for a person with a gun to access a situation and decide if deadly force is needed within a matter of seconds. She recalled cases in which "mistakes" were made by trained law enforcement officers and questioned whether inexperienced citizens would not also make "mistakes".

One point made by Senechal received boos and catcalls from rally attendees. She said that this law forbids the public from learning if someone who commits a crime in Minnesota is a permit holder or not.

In between rally speeches there was folk music. Larry Long sang a piece against the law he had written for the rally and got the crowd to join him in the refrain. With Jeffery Moon playing guitar, Carin Vagle sang a similar song she wrote with Joe Chouinard.

In addition to the speakers and singers there were tables with information provided by various anti-gun and peace and justice organizations. These included the Citizens for a Safer Minnesota which helped sponsor the rally. Also present were the Million Moms group, representatives from Hennepin County Nonviolence , Michael Schweisguth from Rochester with the SE MN Alliance of Peacemakers and Women Against Military Madness. There was a medley of buttons, bumper stickers, posters, lawn signs, T-shirts and flyers available for rally goers. The common theme was anti-violence and anti-gun.

Those attending the rally also brought their own messages on signs and T-shirts of their own design. One woman holding balloons sported a T-shirt with printing on the back proclaiming: "This body bans guns from its premises". Posters and signs included messages like, "Pack a Picnic, Not a Pistol", "Guns Destroy More than Save" and "Getting a job should be easier than getting a gun." An African American man held his three year old daughter who held a sign with "Guns are Yucky" on it.

The rally was not without its own protestors however. About a dozen individuals including Tim Grant a spokesperson for Concealed Carry Reform Now the main lobbyists for the new law were present with their own signs. With messages like, "Logic Banned from These Premises" and "Criminals Want Concealed Repealed" they were asked by security to stay outside the rally room. They did draw some attention from the media present to cover the event.

Perhaps rally speaker Chuck Handlon made the best prediction of what may come in the next few months leading to the next session. Quoting the headline from a recent Post Bulletin article he told the crowd, "The session is over, but debate continues."