Forget draconian cuts to things like higher education. Judging by overwhelming "yes" votes in the North Dakota House on HB 1169, HB 1310, and HB 1273, the big problem for the great state of North Dakota and our citizens is a lack of gun rights.
Here an enormously sad sigh is appropriate.
Oh, well, it's good to have a "go-to" issue when a significant share of today's inept legislators are the very same folks who put the state in its current pickle with over-the-top largesse for oil companies a few years back. Voters might remember that previous revenue-killing largesse come election time. Then again, whom are we kidding? North Dakotans reelected many of those very people last fall.
Still, with revenue shortfalls greater than anybody thought they would be, it's best to change the subject. Old legislators don't want voters' minds on all the cuts that have to be made because they did a poor job of managing state money when the state was flush. Heck, voters might start saying today's cuts didn't have to be as bad as they are. And then voters might start thinking about how arrogantly legislators are acting this session, thwarting the will of the people (think initiated measures, such as BreatheND and medical marijuana) or joining House Majority Leader Al Carlson's retribution against the Indians for the DAPL protest (think state-sponsored casinos). What to do, what to do? Voila! Guns, of course. Get back on top with a trio of needless gun bills. It's always worked before and, by golly, it looks like it will work again.
HB 1169 would make it legal for anyone age 21 years or older to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. If you've had a driver's license or valid ID card for at least a year and aren't a convicted criminal, you pretty much qualify.
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HB 1310 provides for a pilot program of sorts for rural schools. The intent is to have someone not associated with law enforcement carrying a concealed weapon on school premises-just in case there ever was a school shooting and assuming emergency response times would be longer than in cities. Call it the "Really Scary Deep Contingency Planning" bill.
And HB 1273 answers that burning question, "WWJP: What would Jesus pack?" According to the North Dakota House, Jesus prefers concealed firearms. (Just a thought here, but perhaps the 21-year-olds who don't need permits for concealed weapons will start filling up church pews-you know, win, win.)
Guess we should be satisfied SB 2315-the "Murder bill"-is no longer in the mix. It would have allowed for shooting to kill if a kid was running away with one of your lawn chairs.
Chances are the North Dakota Senate will pass the three House bills expanding gun rights. Most North Dakotans won't approve, but the gun lobby and gun rights advocates will be happy. And that seems to be all that counts.
Ahlin writes a Sunday column for The Forum. Email janeahlin@yahoo.com .
