patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Gun Control

Friday, March 29, 2013

R.T. Rybak, Survivor of Mpls. Workplace Shootings Call for Universal Background Checks

The Minneapolis mayor spoke in Minnetonka Thursday with John Souter, the only person shot at Accent Signage who survived the Sept. 27, 2012 gun rampage in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak headed west Thursday to make a statement about the need for gun control. Rybak appeared at Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka with Chaska Police Chief Scott Knight and John Souter, the one person who was injured but not killed in the 2012 shooting rampage at Accent Signage in Minneapolis. They called for background checks on anyone who wants to buy a gun. The press conference and rally were among more than 100 gatherings of gun-control advocates nationwide Wednesday. Rybak noted that the event was taking place in Minnesota's Third Congressional District and urged constituents of U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) to contact him about supporting gun-control legislation. Several local news outlets carried reports on the …

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

(VIDEO) Hennepin County Attorney Shares His Thoughts on Gun Violence Prevention

Mike Freeman appears in his latest Justice Minute video.

Editor's Note: The following was taken from a Hennepin County Attorney's Office newsletter. The issue of preventing gun violence is very personal for me, as it is for many of you. I recently recorded a video to talk about some of the ways we're working to address this problem at the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. I hope you watch it and share your thoughts. -- Mike Freeman *** Related: Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek endorsed legislation to reduce gun violence last week.

Mike B.

10:40 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013

Mike Freeman never met a camera he didn't like. In Chicago, the Democrat Party has only succeeded in taking away the guns of law-abiding citizens and letting the hoodlums and criminals run loose. In Hennepin County, the Democrat Party would like to follow the failed example of Mayor Emmanuel.   more ›

Sunday, March 10, 2013

How Much Has the NRA Given to Minnesota Legislators?

Fifth District Rep. Keith Ellison hasn’t received any contributions from the gun rights group, but others in Minnesota's congressional delegation have gotten thousands of dollars.

The Sandy Hook school shooting may have added new fuel to the gun control debate, but advocacy groups have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to federal legislators since 2009, according to a report released Friday. Nonpartisan research organization MapLight, in coordination with Tableau Software, compiled contribution totals for the leading advocacy groups in the gun control debate—the National Rifle Association and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The NRA’s Political Action Committee dwarfs the Brady Campaign’s in terms of contributions to legislators. It gave about $1.5 million to legislators compared to the Brady Campaign’s $5,900. In Minnesota, the NRA gave nearly $30,000 to legislators—ranking the state 20th in NRA …

mike savick

11:37 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Actually many of us who are neither "pro-gun" or "anti-gun" but, want sensible background checks on everyone who purchases a weapon, belong to neither organizations. Children who are shooting victimes have no choice of organizations. Many of us repect the rights of hunters, recreational shooters, home defenders, but not unlimited access to military style lethal toys with large magazines and …   more ›

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Sheriff Endorses Legislation to Reduce Gun Violence

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek joined lawmakers and Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association at the Capitol Wednesday.

Editor's Note: The following is a Hennepin County Sheriff's Office press release. Wednesday, Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek and the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association announced support for state legislation that would improve public safety by strengthening gun background checks and increasing punishments for repeat offenders. Sheriff Stanek and Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Jim Franklin joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the State Capitol in St. Paul to support the legislation authored by State Representative Debra Hilstrom of Brooklyn Center. The proposal would improve data sharing by providing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) with the most current, accurate and complete …

Comment_arrow

rob_h78

11:52 am on Monday, March 11, 2013

The old "Hitler" reference... What "Constitutional Rights" are eroding before our eyes? Regarding Germany - it was the government BEFORE Hitler that enacted strong gun controls - Hitler actually eased he restrictions on private gun ownership. Further Hitler was extremely popular in Germany - he had no need to take guns away - in fact he was putting guns into German hands as quickly as they could …   more ›

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Violent Crimes Down, Mounted Patrols & Meeting Obama: Sheriff's Newsletter

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office releases its February newsletter.

Editor's Note: The following is a Hennepin County Sheriff's Office release. On Feb. 25, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the future site of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office 911 Emergency Communications Facility in Plymouth.   The new facility will ensure uninterrupted service for 911 calls, radio dispatch, and technical services. To begin digging with ceremonial shovels, Sheriff Rich Stanek was joined by Plymouth Mayor Kelli Slavik, Hennepin County Administrator David Hough, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Carlson, and Hennepin County Commissioners Jan Callison and Linda Higgins Jeff Johnson. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the construction site in Plymouth near the county’s Adult Corrections Facility…

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

VIDEO: Sami Rahamim Talks to CNN About Gun Violence

The SLP student, whom 5th District Rep. Keith Ellison invited to the State of the Union, said he supports limits on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Sami Rahamim, a St. Louis Park High student and the son of slain Accent Signage owner Reuven Rahamim, spoke to CNN on Wednesday about gun violence and meeting with President Barack Obama. Fifth District Rep. Keith Ellison invited Rahamim to attend Tuesday’s State of the Union as part of an effort to step up pressure for tighter gun control laws. Each member of Congress gets to bring just one guest to the House gallery during the speech. Reuven Rahamim, 61, died Sept. 27 when an employee who had just been fired took out a gun and shot Rahamim and other Accent employees. Andrew Engeldinger then shot himself. Six employees and the gunman died as a result of the shootings that day. Sami Rahamim told CNN that he supports proposals such as …

Monday, February 4, 2013

REPLAY VIDEO: Obama in Minneapolis

Watch archived video via The UpTake as President Obama addresses gun violence at the Minneapolis Police Special Operations Center in north Minneapolis.

If you don't see the video of President Obama in Minneapolis here, please visit TheUptake.org. 

Sheriff Stanek on Guns: 'We Have An Access Problem'

The Hennepin County Sheriff spoke during a roundtable discussion with President Barack Obama in Minneapolis Monday.

Editor's Note: The story below is a Hennepin County Sheriff's Office press release. Today, Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek joined Minneapolis residents and law enforcement leaders in a roundtable discussion with President Barack Obama to discuss guns and extreme violence. Among the reasons for President Obama’s visit was to highlight why Minneapolis and Hennepin County have sustained overall reductions in violent crime in recent years and to look for solutions to further reduce gun violence.   As a strong supporter of the 2nd amendment, Sheriff Stanek talked about how the problem is one of access. “Gun ownership isn’t a privilege, it’s a right guaranteed by the Constitution,” said Sheriff Stanek.  “We have an access problem; people …

Dennis Gillespie

9:56 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Steven Steven, I read Rich Stanek's remarks twice and I don't really see how you are reading into his comments that he has sold his sole to Obama. What I see him saying is basically get the mentally ill into the background check data base. That is where most of the problems come from and are not included in the background checks. Also enforce the laws that are already on the books, another big …   more ›

Obama in Minneapolis: Gun Control is About Saving Lives

President called on voters to pressure their legislators to pass gun control measures.

Speaking to a crowd of local dignitaries and law enforcement officers on Monday, President Barack Obama called on voters to pressure Congress to act on curbing gun violence. "We've suffered too much pain to stand by and do nothing," he said.  "We don't have to agree on everything to agree it's time to do something," he added. What did the Twin Cities think about Obama's visit on social media? Adopting universal background checks, banning military-style assault weapons, limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds, and putting more police officers on the street are "common sense," bipartisan measures to reduce gun violence, the President said. He also repeated other proposals to expand access to mental health care for young people. Several …

Gerald Mortenson

6:41 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013

The Minnesota Model for background checks works: there is no need to change it. The "assualt weapon" terminology is third riech propoganda: sadly it worked in the 1930's and is thrown before us again. A lie is a lie is a lie. Pompous political asses can prop it, spice it, speak it loudly, speak it often but it is neo-fascist mind contol. I would remind readers and officials our constitution is …   more ›

President Obama's Visit to Minnesota Kicks Off a Week of Gun Control Debates

Several bills concerning gun laws will take center stage in the Minnesota Legislature starting Tuesday with discussions and public testimony in the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R-Stillwater) sits on that committee

The debate over gun control will dominate politics in Minnesota this week. President Barack Obama will start the discussion with a visit to Minneapolis on Monday to deliver remarks and discuss with local leaders and law enforcement officials his “comprehensive set of commonsense ideas” to reduce gun violence. "Minneapolis is a city that has taken important steps to reduce gun violence and foster a conversation in the community about what further action is needed," a White House news release states. "President Obama will visit with members of the community about their experiences and discuss additional steps that can be taken at the federal level to reduce gun violence." On the local level, several bills concerning gun laws were introduced …

Got a Hot Tip?