Gun Bills | Video

Jessica Roose | 1/22/2013

Do we need more gun control or less? That`s the question many are asking since the school shootings in Connecticut last month. Today, lawmakers at the state capitol heard several bills on the topic. It was a a busy morning for members of the House Judiciary committee. Of the eight bills on their agenda, seven of them had to do with firearms.

It`s one of those topics that no matter what side you`re on, everyone has an opinion.

"This is not a political game. Protection of our individual inalienable rights, is not a game," said Fargo Representative Bette Grande (R).

"It`s children that are getting our guns and shooting up our schools. Most of them are under the age of 20. They`re getting guns from their fathers, their mothers, their grandfathers and others," said Mandan resident Susan Beehler.

House Bill 1183 would, if passed, forbid state agencies, including law enforcement, from enforcing any firearm law passed by the Federal Government that was not already in place by the end of 2012.

"So please don`t put our law enforcement in the position of enforcing unjust or immoral laws against the citizens of North Dakota," said Dickinson resident Kurt Wald.

Also heard was House Bill 1241, which would amend state century code to allow firearms in gaming sites. When the law banning that was passed in the 80s the state was not yet involved with the lottery. Supporters say an un-intended consequence of that is not allowing people with concealed weapon permits to bring their gun into stores or gas stations that sell lotto tickets.

"When I think of concealed permit holders and where they would like to carry, I think of western North Dakota and some of the convenience stores that are everything from their gas station to their Walmart out there. And somebody working a night shift and even an employee has no right to have a concealed weapon in the case that they would need it," said West Fargo Representative Ben Koppelman (R).

No one spoke in opposition to that bill.

Another bill discussed today would, if passed, take concealed weapon laws off the books. The sponsor, Rep Keith Kempenich, says that no amount of laws would stop the tragedies that we have seen happen around the country.

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