Shoot 1st, Ask Questions Later

The weird, wonderful, wacky world of Minnesota politics, part two

Minnesota State Rep. Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder), sometimes better known as Gun-Totin' Tony, is at it again. You see, Tony is the guy who's responsible for all those signs you see posted near the entries of many Minnesota buildings. For example:

Minnesota Monitor bans guns on these premises

Now Tony, a former law enforcement officer, wants Minnesota to have a so-called deadly force bill, which would allow you to blast an intruder's head (or any other anatomical part) off if she or he were threatening bodily harm to you in your home, business or personal vehicle.

Similar legislation to the Minnesota "Stand Your Ground" bill has been passed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and South Dakota — all states to be widely emulated on personal rights issues.

Quoted in the La Crosse Tribune, Cornish says, "It’s not an encouragement to turn it [Minnesota?] into the Wild West or to give them [gun-totin' Minnesotans?] an excuse to shoot people. It enables them to protect themselves legally and it puts the onus on the criminal and the state to prove they were wrong."

"Minnesotans are sick of being victims," the Mankato Free Press quotes Cornish. "This legislation is enabling someone to defend themselves with deadly force, or they can at least use the threat of it and not get sued or thrown in jail."

But current law enforcement officers are not so sure. According to the La Crosse Tribune, Bill Gillespie, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, calls it "a dead duck."

And according to the Free Press, Mankato Public Safety director Jerry Huettl is even more direct: "This is one of the most ill-thought-out, and one of the worst pieces of legislation I have ever seen.... [I]t’s bad legislation. It reeks."

Given the political realities of a DFL controlled legislature, the "Stand Your Ground" bill has about as much of a chance of being passed as a Constitutional Amendment allowing George Bush to run for a third term.

Perhaps if Gun-Totin' Tony broadened the bill a bit he might have half a chance. Left out of the legislation, for example, are threats of mental or spiritual harm to the home, business or personal vehicle owner. I know of a lot of folks who would be in favor of blowing away some of those pesky religious and, during campaign season, political proselytizers.

A personal note:

I know Tony Cornish and like him a lot. We kid each other about our disparate political views. He is a genuinely nice guy, and within his own framework of beliefs does what he thinks is right. Further, he performs volunteer work in Central America helping to rebuild villages, and for that he deserves a thank-you from all his follow Minnesotans.