Non-Emergency Missile Defense

<p>&nbsp;</p> <div> Here is a standard sort of ordinance from the city of New Brighton (emphasis added)</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> A. <strong>No person shall possess, fire, discharge, or set off any</strong> firearm, <strong>missile</strong>, fireworks, or</div> <div> explosives in any open space site. Permits for fireworks will only be issued upon proof of</div> <div> adequate insurance and compliance with State Statutes.</div> <div> B. Only a law enforcement officer shall possess or carry a firearm of any description in any open</div> <div> space site.</div> <div> C. <strong>No person shall possess or carry in any open space site</strong> any air gun, <strong>bow and arrow</strong>, knife with</div> <div> a blade greater than three inches, slingshot, dart, or projectile thrower, or any other dangerous or</div> <div> illegal weapon. Nothing in this Subdivision shall be construed to prevent the recreational use of</div> <div> firearms and bow and arrows on officially established field or target ranges.</div> <div> D. <strong>Any unauthorized or illegal weapon within an open space site shall be subject to seizure by a</strong></div> <div> <strong>law enforcement officer.</strong></div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> So far I have not found a city in the Twin Cities that DOESN&#39;T have an ordinance like this. It just so happens that most people disapprove of casually firing lethal weapons in public spaces. As a fan of lethal weapons I still expect to walk through a park with out worrying about lines of fire.&nbsp;</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> I have personally called the Ramsey County Non-Emergency dispatch twice and found that the Mounds View Police have a response time under 5 minutes. Also, kudos to the Mounds View Police for handling the matter quickly and politely.&nbsp;</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> My advice (successfully followed by MJohnson) is to call the county Non-Emergency dispatch and report that someone is in a public space discharging a bow and arrow. The dispatcher will ask for the location, a description of the shooter, your name and your phone number.&nbsp;</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> Ramsey County Non-Emergency Dispatch&nbsp;</div> <div> 651-767-0640</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> Hennepin County Non-Emergency Dispatch</div> <div> 763-525-6210</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> Calling and reporting this sort of criminal activity has multiple benefits. First it educates the shooters in the way that only talking to the police can. Secondly, the shooters will tell their friends. And third, the police will learn which areas are chronic problem areas. &nbsp;For example, the Mounds View police got so many calls this weekend that they are now planning to install &quot;No Bowfishing&quot; signs at Rice Creek.&nbsp;</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> After making a couple phone calls like this I feel confident that the police take these complaints seriously and that it is an effective and ethical way to oppose fish shooting. At the end of the day, it is not legal to possess, let alone fire a bow in most public spaces. As legal users of public spaces we are well within our rights to report illegal activity. I strongly encourage everyone in the Twin Cities to program these numbers into your cell phones and call in everyone shooting a bow in a park. For those of you outside of the Metro, research your local laws and put your local non-emergency in your phone. I suspect most cities forbid shooting lethal weapons in public spaces.&nbsp;</div> <div> &nbsp;</div>