The goal of any handgun legislation should be to make society safer.

Monday, April 30, 2001

The goal of any handgun legislation should be to make society safer.

Just exactly how to do that without obliterating the Second Amendment raises good questions. So good, in fact, that the Minnesota Legislature this session has put in a substantial amount of time and resources trying to answer them.

The debate centers on efforts to amend the state’s system for issuing handgun permits.

Now local police decide to issue permits if applicants are at least 18 years old and demonstrate an occupational or public safety need to carry a handgun.

Critics say that is too inconsistent statewide and gives local police too much discretion over the process.

The Republican-dominated House recently passed a bill 85-46 that would make it much easier to provide permits. Applicants would be 21 or older, trained in firearms handling and have cleared a criminal background check.

That hardly seems like a measure that’s going to make Minnesota safer. Better armed, maybe. But safer?

Granted, no legislation is going to keep handguns away from those intent on getting them. But will you really feel safer knowing that up to 90,000 more Minnesotans could be carrying guns within four years of this legislation passing?

Yes, these permit holders would be trained in safety. And yes, the vast majority will be very careful. But everyone has a bad day. Everyone forgets to do things.

Think about that the next time you accidentally cut someone off in rush-hour traffic. Or discover your adolescent child has been rummaging through off-limits areas of the house looking for whatever.

Do you really feel safer?

The one aspect proponents of this bill are right about is the inconsistencies of the current system.

Sen. Pat Pariseau, author of a companion measure in the Senate, pointed it out after her colleagues rejected, 40-23, an effort to revive the bill.

The Farmington Republican said she wants the state to gather information on the number of permitholders as well as how many are denied permits and for what reason.

That’s where this debate should go from here. Review and improve the laws so they create a safer environment, not simply one in which more and more Minnesotans are allowed to carry handguns.