Gun owners target family event (Stay classy!) [View all]

[Robb]

Advocates are encouraging gun owners to bring their weapons to Open Streets family-oriented events in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

A group of gun owners have set their sights on a series of Twin Cities neighborhood family events for their own gun-toting get-togethers, beginning this weekend.

The gun owners “meet-up” events, in which the promoters suggest guns be carried openly and not just concealed, came as a surprise to some city officials and organizers of the Open Streets neighborhood gatherings.

“I’m shocked and saddened,” said Nancy Homans, policy director for St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “It seems like guns isn’t the right kind of activity for this event. We’re not even allowing alcohol. … I’m not sure there’s much of a connection between these two events.”

The Facebook page promoting Open Streets-Open Carry says gun owners will add “their own twist” to the neighborhood events by “encouraging ‘open carry’ for pro-active, positive visibility of law abiding gun owners participating in normal social activity … Like normal people!”

(snip)

In an e-mail to Minneapolis city officials, Shelley Leeson, the gun group’s director, said she was informing them of her group’s plans as a professional courtesy. “I do not find it necessary to seek ‘permission’ or give ‘warnings’ to police about our lawful activities.”

Read More: http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/212085201.html