Gun case bill

[MinDak Hunter]

How is being a little extra safe "burdensome"?

Bill would allow uncased firearms in vehicles

Star Tribune

January 15, 2009

Minnesota hunters and shooters would be allowed to transport uncased and unloaded rifles and shotguns in their vehicles under a bill introduced in the Legislature.

Under current law, the only time firearms can be transported uncased and unloaded is in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle.

"We think we can reduce [firearms-related] accidents and reduce conflicts between conservation officers and hunters,'' said Rep. David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, who co-authored the bill along with Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder.

Dill said he doesn't believe loosening the law will result in more firearms-related accidents, or encourage illegal shooting from roadways or poaching. "Our bill would not allow any ammunition in the chamber or magazine,'' he said.

The existing law, he said, is a headache for gun owners and conservation officers alike. He said hunters now can be cited for technicalities, like not fully fastening their guns cases. And casing a gun every time a hunter moves from field to field to hunt is a hassle, he said.

Cornish, a former Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officer, agrees with Dill.

"It's a burdensome regulation that I don't think saves lives or helps hunting ethics,'' he said.

The DNR opposes the bill, noting that states that don't require cased firearms have significantly higher firearms-related accident rates.

"This is going to increase the risk of having additional hunting-related injuries and fatalities due to firearms,'' said Mike Hammer, DNR enforcement division education coordinator.

[so haaad]

Agreed, there is no burden casing a gun. It takes all of about 5 seconds to case a gun.

[CJH]

I am indifferent to this one. Its illegal for the gun to be loaded anyway. I don't mind the 5 seconds to slip the gun in the case either, especially if its going to save some wear and tear on it.

[BobT]

I understand that it really doesn't take that much time but I also realize that I recently was thinking about this myself and thinking how nice it would be if we didn't have to case them.

What does the addition of a case do toward reducing gun related accidents anyway?

I have deer hunted using a pistol for the past couple years and it would sure be nice to be able to just leave in on my hip when I get on my ATV. I also have gun carry racks for my ATV but they are useless for carrying my rifle because they aren't able to carry the gun in the case very practically. It fits in them....sort of but I nearly lost my rifle once this way and so I ended up taking them off.

I always figured the real reason for the case wasn't to protect against accidents but to add the time it takes to get it out of the case and loaded if you're road hunting.

Bob

[chub]

If you duck hunt out of a boat this bill makes sense.

[fishlakeman]

YES!!!! DO IT!!!!

I've grown up hunting in MN, still do a lot of hunting in MN. Started going to college in North Dakota where you can have an uncased and loaded gun (as long as there isn't one in the chamber).

From my experience, this is a very convienent law. It's a pain to always worry about casing your shotgun. For instance, in minnesota we have large sections of CRP that we'll push that are over 1/2 a mile. Usually we'll have someone drive a truck on the other end so we don't have to walk all the way back. A perfect senario where its a pain to get all the cases in the right truck, instead of unloading and driving that 1/2 mile back.

The law would make it easier on us, and I see no reason how it would increase accidents.

[big drift]

I have hunted out west where we are not required to case weapons and have not seen these so called higher accident rates.

I have seen more guys just case their weapons and forget to unload them in MN then anywhere else.

Enough with the mentality of "we know what best for you".

Folks that road hunt will still what they do, folks that poach from windows will still do what they do, why make it a crime for a guy who honestly had a snap on his case pop open or for the fact that his kid did not zip their case up all the way.

You cannot keep regulating the public to far before the public decides what is the point as no matter what they do they will some how some way break some law.

[Whisker Trout Slayer]

fishlakeman - A very cheap and simple solution to your case problem is to go and buy gun socks. Get out of the truck roll it up and put it in your pocket, hunt the field, put gun back in sock and you are done. That is what we do deer hunting and works real nice adn very simple.

Of course the only question would be is are gun socks legal to use in Minnesota as long as they are tied? They are in Iowa.

[big drift]

Their legal but what happens to the guy that was hunting and his string breaks or comes untied from the course of hunting. Or if it happens to fall out of his pocket, vest, or pack.

It was not intentional however that same hunter now has to pay to defend himself.

The purpose of laws is to protect people not subjugate them.

[kr8r.tom]

if it's unloaded it shouldn't be cased, unless the owner wants it protected from damage. theres too many petty laws. if the firearm is unloaded how are we protected from bodily harm in a case? hope this passes so i can finally get the big sky gunrack that bolts to the roof of the truck.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

guys i work with are always greasing me about all the "stupid" laws that i had to deal with growing up in minnesota, and still ahve to deal with when i go home and do some hunting. they laugh at the "fishing opener" , cased guns, shotgun deer season, and just about any other law that seems to do nothing else but generate revenue for the state through citations or license fees, etc. sodak seems so much simpler and streamlined sometimes i think they are on to something. im all for a no case law in minnesota; but i have no dog in the fight as i am no longer a resident.

[Tom7227]

I am indifferent to this one. Its illegal for the gun to be loaded anyway. I don't mind the 5 seconds to slip the gun in the case either, especially if its going to save some wear and tear on it.

Except that the bill allows the gun to be loaded. Check it out -

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0128.0.html&session=ls86

A cut and paste doesn't work on this thing. You have to go and read it.

[CJH]

It references some other sections so hopefully that bans guns from being loaded. Otherwise this would be bad news and I think would have a hard time getting passed.

I am OK with not casing the guns, but they should be unloaded.

[Whisker Trout Slayer]

Their legal but what happens to the guy that was hunting and his string breaks or comes untied from the course of hunting. Or if it happens to fall out of his pocket, vest, or pack.

I have used the same gun sock since 1992 and the string which is the same as a hiking boot lace has not broke, and I have not lost it as it gets put in the game pouch in back of my vest (pheasant vest) on each hunt. It is the gray ones that are sorta stretchy, well just like a sock.

I do not understand on your excuse of what if it comes untied from the course of hunting. The gun is laying in the vehicle. How will it come untied? I mean heck you just tied the string and put your gun in the vehicle, how is it going to come untied. The only way I tie it is just like tieing your shoe and I never had it come undone. It is a good idea to use a gun sock in your situation that you are just trying to come up with excuses.

[Tom7227]

It references some other sections so hopefully that bans guns from being loaded. Otherwise this would be bad news and I think would have a hard time getting passed.

I am OK with not casing the guns, but they should be unloaded.

The sections the bill reference relate to shining deer and using night vision equipment. No way loaded guns should be allowed in vehicles. A solution looking for a problem and really sloppy work by dill and cornish.

[Cold_blood]

ig it happens them pheasants sittin in the ditches no longer have a chance if not well i guess i'll deal with it its not the biggest deal to worry bout

[candiru]

I can picture the "hunters" riding on their 4 wheelers in the northwoods not have to do anything more than put their feet on the ground and drop a shell in the chamber. I can't seem to get away from them now to take a good walk with the dog. This is not much more than an aid to road hunters and does not help the image of hunters in my opinion.

[BobT]

I can picture the "hunters" riding on their 4 wheelers in the northwoods not have to do anything more than put their feet on the ground and drop a shell in the chamber. I can't seem to get away from them now to take a good walk with the dog. This is not much more than an aid to road hunters and does not help the image of hunters in my opinion.

The way I carry my case on my ATV, getting my 12ga. out of my case in a situation like that wouldn't be much more lengthy than getting unstrapped from carrying racks. I believe I could probably get off the ATV, open the case without removing any bunge cords, and have it loaded in less time than it took to type this if I really wanted to.

I do agree that not allowing a loaded weapon or a loaded magazine/clip in the gun is a good idea but I think the case requirement has always pushed it a bit far.

Bob

[Recon]

The only hunters in North Dakota that I"ve seen with uncased guns are the one's who slam on the brakes, jump out of the truck or car, run past the no hunting signs shooting, grab the bird and speed off! We don't need the same in Minnesota, whether in a vehicle or on an ATV! Keep the gun case law!

[paul pachowicz]

I posted this a few days ago. We are allowed to carry loaded guns in our vehicles here in SoDak. That includes one in the chamber. You very seldom hear of accidents. I'll get a copy of the laws and post them on how they read on shooting off or out of vehicles.

[chub]

The only hunters in North Dakota that I"ve seen with uncased guns are the one's who slam on the brakes, jump out of the truck or car, run past the no hunting signs shooting, grab the bird and speed off! We don't need the same in Minnesota, whether in a vehicle or on an ATV! Keep the gun case law!

You don't think that happens here now??????????

LOL

[BlueLundFishrman]

I guess I've never had a problem with uncased and loaded firearms in the vehicle. Sometimes, I'll have shotguns, rifles, and pistols all loaded and uncased in the vehicle. Never had an issue with someone getting hurt. I guess the way I see it, it comes down to handling the weapons properly.

[BlueLundFishrman]

I guess having grown up in SD, I've been used to having loaded and uncased firearms in the vehicle since before I was legal hunting age.

Perhaps, in MN it's better to keep it the way it is. Obviously, many are not comfortable with an uncased firearm in the vehicle, let alone having it loaded, with one in the chamber while in the vehicle.

[KG243]

Laws are not going to prevent idiots from being idiots. A waste of our money to even be discussing this bill in congress!

[fasternu]

I have a friend who was deer hunting with his rifle. He got back to the car and when he tried to put his gun in the case, the zipper broke, so he zipped it shut all the way except for the last 3 to 4 inches. As soon as he started the vehicle, here come the CO. He got a hefty ticket because it wasn't fully shut. How was not having it closed 3-4 inches more unsafe than shut all the way? If it's out of reach and unloaded, It really shouldn't be an issue.