2002-05-06                     Senate Journal                      Page 3165
SB 242                                                                                            
Message dated and received May 3 was read, stating:                                                 
                                                                                                    
Dear President Halford:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
Under the authority of art. II, sec. 17 of the Alaska Constitution, I am                            
allowing the following bill passed by the second session of the                                     
Twenty-second Alaska State Legislature to become law without my                                     
signature and am transmitting the engrossed and enrolled copies to the                              
Lieutenant Governor's Office for permanent filing:                                                  
                                                                                                    

2002-05-06                     Senate Journal                      Page 3166
                 SENATE BILL NO. 242 am H "An Act relating to                                      
          concealed handgun permittees."                                                            
                                                                                                    
                           Chapter No. 17, SLA 2002                                                
                           Effective Date: 08/01/02                                                
                                                                                                    
I have allowed this bill to become law without my signature because                                 
while it does little to benefit Alaskans, its impact is minimal. Some                               
concerns regarding this bill were raised during the legislative process                             
by state agencies and the Alaska Peace Officers Association.                                        
However, the case made on behalf of Alaska's concealed handgun                                      
permit holders by Lt. Governor Fran Ulmer and Democratic legislators                                
Harry Crawford, Eric Croft, John Davies, Gretchen Guess, and Joe                                    
Hayes persuaded me otherwise.                                                                       
                                                                                                    
Generally, Alaska's current concealed handgun permit law has worked                                 
well. Further revisions to it, such as these, may have little or no                                 
practical effect. For these reasons, I have decided to let this bill                                
become law without my signature.                                                                    
                                                                                                    
Sincerely,                                                                                          
/s/                                                                                                 
Tony Knowles                                                                                        
Governor