House passes gun bill; measure now goes to governorBY RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER
The Minnesota House today passed a measure that would allow sane, law-abiding Minnesotans to get a permits to carry loaded weapons in public.
The 86-47 vote sends the bill to Gov. Tim Pawlenty for his signature. He is expected to sign the bill, which is essentially a reenactment of a 2003 gun permit law that the state Appeals Court overturned last month. The Minnesota Senate passed the measure last week.
The House debate on the bill was sedate and, at less than three hours, rather short given the controversy surrounding it. But that may be largely because representatives knew the bill would pass.
Opponents offered nine changes to the measure but none passed.
The change that came closest to passage would have banned guns in churches and other religious institutions. That failed on a 60-73 vote.
As it stands, the measure would require churches to inform parishioners that they ban guns in order to keep the weapons out of their sanctuaries.
Led by Edina Community Lutheran Church, dozens of religious congregations challenged the 2003 law. House members today said the new law would also end up in court if it did not ban guns in churches.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/breaking_news/11678090.htm.
