News from The Senate Majority

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
716 West 4th Avenue, Suite 510
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: 907/258-8184
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Knowles Vetoes Citizen Gun Rights, Again

For Immediate Release: June 26, 1997 Contact: Senator Lyda Green 907/376-3370

Anchorage -- In response to the governor’s veto of Alaska’s "Right to Carry" legislation, bill sponsor Senator Lyda Green Thursday said it is clear, after two consecutive vetoes, the governor does not support the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.

A bipartisan legislature passed Senate bill 141 last session by a vote of 45 to 13, to revise the state’s previous concealed handgun law agreeing it was discriminatory, overly restrictive, too confusing, and too expensive.

"By vetoing this legislation, the governor is refusing to allow law-abiding Alaskans to protect themselves and their families from harm," said Green. "He has vetoed a carefully crafted compromise, that assured Alaskan’s rights while accommodating every concern of the Department of Public Safety and adopting all language changes submitted by the Alaska Peace Officers Association."

"The governor has fought this legislation from the start and will apparently say just about anything to keep law-abiding Alaskans from carrying concealed," Senate President Mike Miller said.

Knowles stated in his veto press release that the bill would limit the ability of some peace officers to carry concealed.

Actually, SB 141 greatly expanded the ability of peace officers to carry concealed without obtaining a permit. The bill ensures that certified state and local peace officers will be able to carry concealed anywhere, anytime and exemptions are included so that out-of-state peace officers will also be able to carry concealed in Alaska.

Knowles also stated that SB 141 would allow concealed handguns into places where common sense says they should not be allowed, including domestic violence shelters.

"This couldn’t be further from the truth," Green said. "SB 141 ensures that open and concealed carry will continue to be prohibited in courthouses, schools, school buses, bars, state-funded domestic violence and sexual assault shelters and anywhere else state or federal law prohibit firearms. The bill went even further, protecting domestic violence shelters beyond current law by prohibiting all possession of handguns, concealed or open, from these facilities."

In addition, just as with open carry of firearms, concealed carry can be prohibited by posting a notice in any state or municipal office, and in homes, businesses or facilities.

The governor said the bill went too far in making it easier for certain persons to obtain a permit.

The truth is, "addicts, chronic misdemeanants, convicted felons, anyone ever convicted of a crime of domestic violence, and anyone else prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law will not be able to get a concealed carry permit," said Green.

Contrary to the Governor’s rhetoric, federal law explicitly prohibits possession of firearms by anyone committed to an institution for the mentally ill or who is adjudicated as mentally ill.

Miller noted that experience in Alaska and across the United States proves that people who get permits to carry concealed do not commit crime.

"If 300,000 adult Alaskans can legally carry a handgun openly, there is no reason 6,300 Alaskans who have been finger-printed, background checked, trained and permitted should have greater restrictions on where they can carry," said Miller.

The legislation is supported by the NRA, the Alaska Outdoor Council, the Alaska Boating Association and (except for lowering fees) by the Alaska Peace Officers Association. The Department of Public Safety stated no opposition to SB 141.

###