Archived Story
Savick left before guns hearing
Published 9:26pm Saturday, February 16, 2013House File 241 titled assault weapons: crime established for manufacturing, transferring or possessing assault weapons; existing assault weapon disposal or registration provided; penalties provided.
I attended the HF 241 hearing. When the hearing started state Rep. Micheal Paymar stated some members had to leave early and they did. State Rep. Alice Hausman, the author, departed after her opening statement.
Heather Martens, lobbyist funded by the Joyce Foundation, testified for Rep. Hausman in her absence that “expert” Brent Gurtek of French River Muzzleloaders did not offer much in knowledgeable testimony in reference to modern sporting rifles. Martens paraded children’s photographs, standard fare for trampling on rights. Testimony from the James Younger gang re-enactor was especially egregious. She committed crimes of irrelevance, it was shameless self-promotion.
Before opponents of HF 241 began testimony, which can be seen in a YouTube video, you will notice more empty seats. The following were absent: state Reps. Debra Hilstrom, Shannon Savick, Dan Schoen, Erik Simonson and Linda Slocum. I cannot say at what time they left, nor if they came back.
HF 241 mandates registration of weapons beyond point of sale becoming an annual event with background check, forced compliance inspection of storage in your home by law enforcement. One cannot transfer, buy or sell affected weapons, and they may not be purchased except for transfer to the appropriate law enforcement agency for the purpose of surrendering the weapon for destruction.
I take great exception to empty chairs. Thousands of Minnesotans traveled to St. Paul at their expense, incurring lost wages. This hearing was important enough to make sacrifices, yet this sentiment was not shared by some elected officials. I expect a certain level of conduct when the government does business. My expectations with others were sadly unfulfilled. How can one miss testimony and make an informed decision?
I encourage everybody to read HF 241, then go to the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website watch the video, all two hours of it, and make your own decisions. How could HF 241 be considered “common sense” is beyond me. This bill will make felons out of lawful citizens. Are we prepared to imprison our fellow citizens for exercising their rights?
Randy Kruckeberg
Mankato
The elected officials that do not support our rights need to be voted out!
Randy,
Maybe Shannon’s mind was made up and she had heard enough, and went on to work on other important issues. She is not the first person to leave a hearing early,
it happens all the time.
Heres an example of the point I am trying to prove……
Lets say someone was trying to discuss the womens right to choose issue with me. It wouldn’t matter how long they talked, 5 minutes or 50 hours, or how many photo’s they display ,or all the numbers they want to crunch. My mind won’t change. I don’t believe that big government needs to be so invasive that it thinks it can tell a women what she can or cannot do with her body.I would not waste my time on an issue I already have hard fixed feelings on. Instead I would go spend my time on something else of more importance.
For my example I could have used the marriage topic and how big government needs to keep out of that issue as well, (I believe EVERYONE has the right to be as happy or as miserable as us married folk here in Minnesota)
Instead though, having 3 daughters I chose to talk about womens rights and how big government needs to trust them make their own choices just as you believe the big government should continue let a person choose to buy one, five hundred, or even a thousand or more guns.
I am sure your mind cannot be changed on that issue just as mine and others cannot be changed on other issues.
I would like to apologize for part of the post I just wrte.
I should not imply that I know what you believe in.
I would like to restate part of the post and add the word (MAY) so it reads like this instead…
“just as you (MAY) believe the big government should continue let a person choose to buy one, five hundred, or even a thousand or more guns.”
I was afraid this would happen
1. The title that was printed in the paper was NOT the title I submitted which was “HF241 hearing” I requested that “HF 241 hearing” be the title at the time I submitted it. That IS the VERY reason I dropped it off personally for some reason they printed this I find the printed title extremely objectionable.
2. Al we may disagree but I do respect your opinion you have conviction of your beliefs.
3. The purpose is to draw attention to a couple of things the bills author departed after the opening statement a lobbyist testified for her also it would have been nice to use facts instead of emotion when talking about making new laws especially of a sensitive nature. You should be there and asking questions like what is the impact of this, is this enforceable, do we have the manpower, will this solve the problem and lastly is this legal when making new law.
What exactly is the purpose of this law does it target criminals or the citizens in HF 241 they are talking about registration, inspection, taxation and confiscation leading to destruction of private property without compensation is everybody OK with that?
The state loves to tax and register but is ill equipped to do this on this scale the bill is punitive in nature and targets the law abiding citizen which apparently we are going to fine and imprison if the don’t comply my .02
Lastly this is NOT about party I left that out on purpose nor one individual like the tribune title implies but the process, the bill, impact and penalties of the bill.
I also see they left out a part of the letter I submitted as well this provides perspective.
Actual text of HF 241 the confiscation component 10.1 (c) Registered assault weapons my not be purchased except for transfer to the appropriate law enforcement agency for the purpose of surrendering the weapon for destruction.