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Guns not appropriate in churches

To the editor:
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that it was time for us to take back our quality of life in Minnesota. For the seventh year in a row (1997-2003), Minnesota has been ranked the Most Livable State in the country by Morgan Quitno Press (an independent private research publishing company). Rankings are based on 43 factors that reflect the standard of living that Americans want: high home ownership rates, job growth, strong education and low crime rates, among other indicators.
One threat to our quality of life is the slash and burn approach of the Pawlenty administration to funding for education and human services. This is not just about holding the line on taxes; it is about priorities. One Pawlenty priority supported by all three District 17 legislators has been the new carry and conceal act. In my opinion, it is the worse such bill in the nation! Handguns do not belong in churches, school parking lots, sporting events, bars, banks and most public places. The bill that Pawlenty rushed to sign without taking any time to review its consequences, requires churches to post a regulation sign at each of their entrances and, in addition, advise each churchgoer, each Sunday that they cannot bring guns into the church. The Governor now recognizes this is a burdensome requirement and is willing to change one word that would exempt them of the requirement to tell each churchgoer. However, after seeing signs going up at the Cathedral of St. Paul and other churches, the signs themselves are offensive. Neither guns nor these signs are appropriate for churches.
Think about it, the next time you are in a bank and you spot someone with a handgun, will it be a law abiding citizen or a criminal about to rob the bank? Hopefully, all banks (bars, restaurants etc) will post signs banning guns from their premises. What about school parking lots or local bars? I think you can get the picture. Over 40 churches have already challenged the law and the number will continue to grow. Changing a word will not fix what is a bad bill for Minnesotans. The bill needs to be repealed. Call and tell your legislators.
Last Wednesday, at a press conference, Catholic Bishops Pates (on behalf of Catholics, Protestants and Jews), the Mayor of Apple Valley, the president of the Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Association, a chamber member and small business owner, and others all spoke out against this Act. It is time for legislators to listen to the public and not just the money from the gun industry. For more information visit www.endgunviolence.com or call Lila Foldes at (651) 632-2184 to order your Take Back Public Spaces Tool kit for Action.
Robert G. Walz
North Branch

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