Local News
Uncased bill advances
A bill allowing Minnesota hunters to have uncased guns in vehicles and boats in certain situations, which has drawn support from hunting groups and opposition from law enforcement associations, continued its advance through the legislative committee process Monday.
State Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder, is a co-sponsor of the legislation and was watching as it passed the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
“It’s got popular support — deer hunters and water fowl associations,” Cornish said.
But he expects the bill to hit serious opposition from law enforcement agencies in upcoming committees.
“Law enforcement is going to try to stop it in the committees — Judiciary over here (in the Senate) and Public Safety Policy in the House,” said Cornish, who is both a hunter and police chief in Lake Crystal. “They don’t, so far, produce one thread of evidence that it’s an officer safety issue.”
State law currently requires guns to be cased when in vehicles, an inconvenience for hunters, and in moving motorized boats, a problem when waterfowl hunters are pursuing a wounded duck.
The Minnesota Sheriffs Association supports current law to reduce the potential for accidental shootings and the temptation of hunters to engage in illegal road-side hunting.
Backers of the change have amended their legislation to allow uncased guns in vehicles only if the weapons are unloaded, and law enforcement groups didn’t speak against the bill Monday. Cornish predicted that will change in coming hearings before committees made up of members more skeptical of the legislation.
The bill, which had its first Senate hearing Monday, has passed two committees in the House.
- Local News
-
-
DWI patrols expand into the bars
Wednesday marked the first time the RAVE approach was applied in outstate Minnesota.
-
High-speed chase ends in crash at Wal-Mart
An apparent high-speed chase Thursday morning ended with the suspect crashing into the doors at Mankato Wal-Mart.
-
Walkers to monitor Kato flood walls
Area rivers have reached flood stage and are still rising
-
'Metro' money starting to flow
The Mankato area's new status as a metropolitian statistical area is paying off.
-
Flood watch: New Ulm, Le Sueur County
CLICK for latest Mankato weather forecast
Detailed floodwatch for New Ulm, Mankato, St. Peter, Henderson.
-
Parking ramp grant secured
Mankato has received a state grant of $850,000 to build a parking ramp downtown at Hickory and Second streets, a big boost to a plan to renovate the Heco Building.
-
Flooding shuts down area roads
Flooding on roadways is causing several road closures in area.
Motorists are asked to avoid these areas and report any other roadways covered by water by calling 911. - Weird News: Our litigious society
-
Election changes set for 2010
Most voters won't be much affected by 2010 Minnesota election changes, but primary voters and absentee voters should take note.
- Today's services (3/18/2010)
- More Local News Headlines
-
