Anti-dentitism In Edina?

Guns aren't really my bag. I don't own one and probably haven't fired one since my freshman year of college when I was in ROTC. But I firmly believe in the right to keep and bear arms even if I don't choose to exercise that right myself. That's why I belong to the NRA and support the attempts in Minnesota to reform our conceal and carry laws. To understand why you need to read stories like this from a local community newspaper:

A Hennepin County District Court judge recently upheld the Edina police chief’s decision to deny a dentist a permit to carry a concealed handgun.

Following a six-day trial, District Court Judge David Duffy ruled Feb. 3 that Edina Police Chief Mike Siitari properly denied the permit to Edina resident Franz Metzger, who has a dental practice in St. Louis Park and a tree farm in Itasca County.

So what's all the fuss about?

Metzger first applied for a permit to carry a pistol in 1994 and was granted that permit by former Edina Police Chief William Bernjhelm, District Court documents state. Bernjhelm renewed Metzger’s permit through 1999.

When Metzger reapplied for a permit in 2000, Siitari, who had recently been appointed as Edina’s new chief of police, denied the dentist’s request, according to District Court documents.

This guy had a C&C permit for six years. Then when a new police chief was appointed it was denied. In Minnesota the decision rests solely (you can appeal) upon the whims of the local police chiefs. If one happens to dislike you for any reason you could be denied.

Siitari’s denial of renewal was based upon the grounds that “dentist and tree farm owner do not qualify as occupations or personal safety hazards that require a permit to carry,” court documents state.

Which sounds reasonable until you consider...

During the six-day September 2002 trial, Metzger argued that he met those requirements based on the grounds that he transports narcotics and precious metals to his office and has expensive equipment in his office, court documents state.

Violence isn't linked to narcotics right?

Metzger also testified that his safety is exacerbated by the location of his office building in the 6600 block of Excelsior Boulevard in an area he describes as “high crime,” according to court documents. His testimony established that this claim was based on the office’s proximity to the nearby Meadowbrook housing complex.

However, St. Louis Park’s police chief informed Siitari that earlier problems at the Meadowbrook complex had been addressed and that the housing project is at this point a “success story,” court documents state. The judge found no evidence to suggest that the office complex is in a high-crime area.

I live in St. Louis Park and used to live in Hopkins, an adjoining suburb, and I'm not trying to insinuate anything but Meadowbrook is often referred to "Ghettobrook" by local residents. Calling it a "success story" is quite an optimistic evaluation to say the least.

“I think that the decision illustrates the problem with the current law, leaving the decision to issue a permit to the discretion of the local police chief and then setting no objective standard for any court to apply,” said Metzger’s attorney, Elizabeth Carlson.

But at least the citizens of Edina can rest easy this evening knowing that this dentist won't be carrying a concealed firearm. And how much did this cost the taxpayers of Edina?

The city of Edina has spent more than $82,000 in staff time, attorney’s fees and court fees to uphold this decision, Siitari said.