The "ban" wagon is rolling again. There is a policy discussion currently in progress regarding the ability to carry weapons into the state Capitol complex. Sorry that I forgot to post this when I heard about it on Monday.
The room has maybe forty pro gun rights supporters, and no anti gun people that I can see. update, there were at least three anti gun persons, non of them wearing any anti gun clothing.
Two camera crews are present and were doing interviews.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqRpb7bBi1w Video of the hearing.This was all originally done on a smart phone, sorry for the poor quality of editing. Also note that I likely made a few minor mistakes in transcribing details.
11:03 meeting started.
11:30 Talking about gun stuff now. Defining and nitpicking terms and language.
11:50 A lot of boring talk about what other states do. Some want security at the door, others don't. Now we are onto the actual issue.
Not allowed to bring long guns into the capitol currently. Not sure if that is true, but that is what the committee members said.
11:55 Lady asking stupid questions, she isn't aware that permits require training in this state.
She thinks it's bad that people can carry guns in the audience during heated debates. "They just might lose it".
11:58 Another lady disagrees with the first lady. I will look for the video when I get home. This debate is getting good.
12:00 State trooper said everyone he checked was compliant with the law.
12:02 Paymar (anti gun rep and committee chair) wants to know what his powers are, doesn't want to make any strong recommendations to the legislature. Seems to be acting less anti gun that a few months ago. Edit: he isn't the chair of this committee. He was chair of previous house committees.
12:05 Seems like our side is winning.
"That lady" is saying us pro gun people can send death threats. Other lady is rebutting her, says gun owners are the best behaved of any group that visits the capitol. Anti gun lady claims to have received death threats from gun owners. Other reps seem sceptical.
12:10 Debate over whether there will be public testimony. Paymar doesn't want public comment, the lady chair does. Paymar doesn't want guns in the capitol, says he can't find common ground with gun supporters.
12:17 Minnesotans want public open process. Paymar wants this gun issue handled quietly.
12:19 There will be a second meeting. Likely postponed past the 20th.
12:22 I may be a TV star. Back right corner by the door.
Public testimony soon.
12:23 Public testimony. Person mentioned gun free zones won't work without airport level security.
12:24 Lady said she was intimidated by gun owners and asked for more security at the winter meetings. This claim is absolute BS. Even by gun owners standards we were perfect in our behaviour.
12:27 Pro gun lady wants the ability to carry or a lot better security for normal people. She said only she was responsible for her security.
12:29 Pro gun person called the previous anti gun lady wrong brought up conversations with Sgt at Arms who said our side behaved overwhelmingly great. Sgt at arms agreed, they are present at the hearing to testify because they do a lot of the security work.
12:31 Anti gun guy who shouted down our side back in the previous hearings and kept making an ass out of himself said he was intimidated by us. He wasn't too intimidated back then to harass some people's kids.
12:33 Meeting adjourned.
I will keep you guys updated on the next hearing.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013 Note that this may change before Tuesday gets here, to be pushed back to give a few people more time to prepare.
Meeting starts at 10:00 a.m.; please arrive by 9:00 for best seating!
Advisory Committee on Capitol Security
Room: 15 State Capitol
Chair: Lt. Governor Prettner Solon
Agenda:
1. Approval of August 14, 2013 Meeting Minutes, Acceptance of Agenda
2. Part 2 of 2: Firearms on the Capitol Complex, Discussion on Policy Direction, Draft Language
3. Public Comment