New Anti-Gun Control Law
Set for Alaska
By MATT VOLZ
Associated Press Writer
October 17, 2005, 4:08 AM EDT
JUNEAU, Alaska -- Starting Wednesday,
handgun owners won't need permits to carry concealed weapons in the
seven Alaska cities where they're still required. There also will be no
more restrictions on keeping a firearm in a vehicle.
A new state anti-gun control law that
goes into effect will essentially bar municipalities from passing gun
laws that are more restrictive than state law.
The National Rifle Association, which
helped Republican state Rep. Mike Chenault write the legislation, says
except for the concealed weapon permit requirements, most Alaska city
and state gun laws are the same.
What the NRA wants to do is prevent
cities from passing more restrictive laws in the future. It calls it
state pre-emption, and Alaska will be the 44th state to have such a law
on its books.
"We are looking to make it uniform to
all 50 states," said NRA spokeswoman Kelly Hobbs. "Without it, it
creates an unfair, inconsistent and confusing patchwork of local
firearm ordinances."
But Alaska police chiefs worry about no
longer being able to enforce laws banning guns from public buildings,
such as city halls.
The new law would allow cities to keep
guns out of places beyond a restricted access point, such as a metal
detector, but the chiefs say their cities can't afford the staff or
equipment.
"There are lots of people, myself
included, we really value our constitutional rights," said Anchorage
Police Chief Walter Monegan. "But if we had the same enthusiasm to also
support our constitutional responsibilities, then I would be less
concerned over this issue."
Chenault argues that even though state
law now does not specifically prohibit weapons in municipal buildings,
it does prohibit them in state buildings, so a municipal law wouldn't
be considered more restrictive. He acknowledged, however, that it may
take a court challenge to see if he's right.
Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.
