Response from Senator on MN "Castle Doctrine"

[westberg]

Here is the response I received from Senator Rick Olseen on my request to him to pass this bill.

Dear Ron:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the new ‘Castle
Doctrine’ legislation. I always appreciate hearing from constituents
and want to be sure to give you my stance on this issue.

As the bill currently stands, I cannot support it. I agree with the
notion that people should have the right to defend their home from
imminent danger, which is the current law now, Statute 609.065
JUSTIFIABLE TAKING OF LIFE.; however, the law being proposed suggests
that when one feels threatened anywhere, be it outside, in the car, at
the office, etc., they would have the right to shoot someone, and I
cannot support that. The current legal language in the bill regarding
what constitutes a threat is too vague for me and I believe it may allow
for unjustifiable use of force. I do want you to know that I do support
the right to have a license for conceal and carry, in which you can use
your weapon as a last resort to defend yourself.

I think that the more pressing issue involved in this entire debate
should not be focused on how one can defend his/her self; rather, it
should be about preventing the threats that would require one to have to
protect his/her self. I assure you that this session I will work hard
to make public safety a key priority.

Preserving the safety of our state is an important job of state
government, and I believe that by strengthening our law enforcement we
will not have the need for ‘Castle Doctrine’ laws. Our police
departments have been faced with budget cuts due to reductions in local
government aid for the last several sessions. I will work hard to
restore the cuts to local government aid so that our local governments
can once again adequately fund law enforcement.

Public safety is of the utmost importance to our state and I will
continue to work hard to ensure that we provide the resources necessary
to let our police officers do their jobs. I appreciate you contacting
me on this matter, and if I can ever be of any further assistance,
please do not hesitate to continue to email me or contact my office by
phone at 651-296-5419.

Sincerely,

Rick Olseen
State Senator District 17


>>> "Ron Westberg" <ron@XXXXXX.com> 02/18/08 1:09 PM >>>
Mr. Olseen,

If and when this bill comes before you, I hope that you vote for its
passage. I'm very interested in seeing bill become law.

Regards
Ron Westberg

[cobb]

Is Senator Rick Olseen a "R" or a "D" ?

I think that the more pressing issue involved in this entire debate
should not be focused on how one can defend his/her self; rather, it
should be about preventing the threats that would require one to have to
protect his/her self.

How does he plan to prevent the threat, register all the firearms?

[rtk]

That was a sheepish response.

rtk

[westberg]

He is DFL

[westberg]

He obviously does not have a very strong defense against not passing it as it stands. I'm very new to writing politicians, so I'm asking for advice on what if any should be the next step. There are members that are very talented when it comes to this, so I'm open for suggestions, even if it is leave it alone your screwing things up.

Ron

[cmj685]

I wrote to Paul Gardner about the bill. His noncommittal response was a bit better, but only just:

Hi, Mike. Thanks for your e-mail and for sharing your
story. Most outside interest groups flood e-mail boxes
and radio, etc. with all sorts of hyperbole on
different issues, and it sounds like this is the same thing.
Usually the truth lies in between.

I understand that the Castle Doctrine bill should get
a hearing in the public safety policy committee this
session. I probably won't see it until it hits the
floor. Keep me posted if you hear anything else.

Rep. Paul Gardner
Minnesota House of Representatives District 53A
(651) 296-2907
rep.paul.gardner@house.mn
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/member ... strict=53A
blog: http://www.paulgardner53a.blogspot.com
Home phone constituent line: (651) 797-4317

[nyffman]

He is DFL

You didn't have to tell us that. He did it for you, here:

I think that the more pressing issue involved in this entire debate
should not be focused on how one can defend his/her self; rather, it
should be about preventing the threats that would require one to have to
protect his/her self.

and here when he warns us that he is going to get into our paycheck even deeper:

Our police
departments have been faced with budget cuts due to reductions in local
government aid for the last several sessions.

and here:

I do support
the right to have a license for conceal and carry

He doesn't even know how the law works, but at least he supports our right to have a license. Right to have a license? What part of the constitution recognizes anyone's right to have a license, and if it's truly a right, you damn well better support it, whatever it is.

You have a lot of work to do with this guy.

[cobb]

He is DFL

You didn't have to tell us that. He did it for you, here:

I think that the more pressing issue involved in this entire debate
should not be focused on how one can defend his/her self; rather, it
should be about preventing the threats that would require one to have to
protect his/her self.

Ya right, I didn't have to ask. It may have been a foolish question in several regards, but not to as if he was a "D" or a "R". In todays politics, from the statement he made you cannot tell, some of the RINO's are worse than the left leaning D's when it comes to policies.

[nyffman]

I guess you're right, but my first thought when I saw his responses was "D"

[Tabsr]

My State Rep,

Thomas,

Thank you for your letter. If this bill comes to the House floor for a vote, I will support it.

Sincerely,

Sarah Anderson
State Representative
Plymouth & Medicine Lake
229 State Office Building
100 MLK Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-5511

[Tabsr]

Now my Democratic party Senator's response.

Dear Thomas,
Thanks for the email. I will keep your thoughts in mind if this bill comes before me on the Senate floor.
Terri


Terri Bonoff
State Senator District 43
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
325 State Capitol Building
St Paul, MN 55155-1606
Phone: 651-296-4314
Fax: 651-767-0924

[Tabsr]

The Democratic US Senator for MN response to the Heller SCOTUS

Dear Thomas:

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on guns. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this important and timely issue.

I believe that the Second Amendment gives our citizens the right to own guns for collection, protection and sport. As the former chief prosecutor of Minnesota's largest county, I have worked to enforce the gun laws already on the books and will continue to support ways to prosecute gun crimes on the federal level. I also support the work being done to ensure adequate background checks for gun purchasers, including potential new requirements regarding mental health background checks.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. Please do not hesitate to do so again.

Sincerely,

Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator

[Tabsr]

Dear Thomas,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me concerning the Supreme Court's decision to hear the case on whether the District of Columbia can ban handguns (the District of Columbia v. Heller, 07-290). I am a strong supporter of our Second Amendment rights and I support the long-standing interpretation of its application to the individual gun owner, as well as to government militias.



As you may know, Mr. Dick Anthony Heller, an armed security guard, sued the District after it rejected his application to keep a handgun at his home for protection. The government of Washington, D.C., which has banned handguns since 1976, is asking the court to uphold its ban in light of a federal appeals court ruling that struck it down. On November 20, 2007, the Supreme Court decided to hear the case.

I believe that the most effective method for reducing violent crime-including crimes committed with a gun-is to use as many resources as possible to catch and prosecute criminals under current law. Numerous laws and regulations already exist that help ensure that gun owners store and use their guns in a safe and lawful manner. For example, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) oversees almost every aspect of the gun industry, including the manufacture, shipment, sale, and use of every type of gun available. Also, under the National Instant Check System (NICS) which began in 1998, anyone who purchases a gun must be cleared to do so by the FBI and undergo a background check.

Please know that I am a strong supporter of our Second Amendment rights and the right of people to protect themselves, their families, and their homes from danger. I will continue to oppose any efforts to weaken the Second Amendment and the right of the American people to keep and bear arms and I will work to continue lowering the nation's violent crime rate.

Thank you once again for contacting me. If I may be of further assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate

[jac714]

My State Rep,

Thomas,

Thank you for your letter. If this bill comes to the House floor for a vote, I will support it.

Sincerely,

Sarah Anderson
State Representative
Plymouth & Medicine Lake
229 State Office Building
100 MLK Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-5511

Brevity? From a politician?

She is apparently a keeper as a rep, agrees with our 2A positions and knows how to keep things short.

[Dick Unger]

But this bill won't, in fact, "come to the floor" this session. So it's a non-reply, but at least, a reply....