Legislature(1993 - 1994)

10/23/1993 03:00 PM Senate STA

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
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                SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE                                 
                        Soldotna, Alaska                                       
                        October 23, 1993                                       
                           3:00 P.M.                                           
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
 Senator Loren Leman, Chairman                                                 
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
 Senator Mike Miller, Vice Chairman                                            
 Senator Robin Taylor                                                          
 Senator Johnny Ellis                                                          
 Senator Jim Duncan                                                            
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1                                                 
 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of                      
 Alaska relating to the individual right to keep and bear arms.                
                                                                               
 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 34                                                
 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of                    
 Alaska relating to the individual right to keep and bear arms.                
                                                                               
  PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION                                             
                                                                               
 SJR 1 - See State Affairs minutes dated 9/17/93                               
                                                                               
 SJR 34 - See State Affairs minutes da ted 9/17/93.                            
                                                                               
 WITNESS REGISTER                                                              
                                                                               
 Brad Bradney                                                                  
 P.O. Box 1601                                                                 
 Kenai, Alaska 99611                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Wesley Jones                                                                  
 P.O. Box 535                                                                  
 Seward, Alaska 99664                                                          
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Michael Mooter                                                                
 P.O.Box 1041                                                                  
 Seward, Alaska 99664                                                          
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Gordon Kessling                                                               
 P.O. Box 32                                                                   
 Seward, Alaska 99664                                                          
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
 Amanuel Dabney                                                                
 P.O. Box 665                                                                  
 Soldotna, Alaska 99664                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Alvin Bayer                                                                   
 P.O. Box 2822                                                                 
 Homer, Alaska 99603                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Tim Smith                                                                     
 P.O. Box 4393                                                                 
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Russ Morrison                                                                 
 P.O. Box 4623                                                                 
 Soldotna, Alaska 99664                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Tom Vogel                                                                     
 2707 Wildwood Dr., #32                                                        
 Kenai, Alaska 99611                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Richard Dubendorf                                                             
 P.O. Box 67                                                                   
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Roland Cusson                                                                 
 295 Riverside                                                                 
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Vernon Thornton                                                               
 P.O. Box 16                                                                   
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 May Alice Hopkins                                                             
 P.O. Box 2191                                                                 
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Mike Mathews                                                                  
 P.O. Box 3086                                                                 
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Henry Moser                                                                   
 P.O. Box 697                                                                  
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Thomas Eliason                                                                
 P.O. Box 703                                                                  
 Seward, Alaska 99664                                                          
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Steven H. Mussman                                                             
 373 West Vine Ave.                                                            
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Bob Benedict                                                                  
 P.O. Box 3216                                                                 
 Kenai, Alaska 99611                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Jeneane Benedict                                                              
 P.O. Box 3216                                                                 
 Kenai, Alaska 99611                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Bill Boles                                                                    
 HCS Box 911                                                                   
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Jim Jenckes                                                                   
 616 Maple Dr.                                                                 
 Kenai, Alaska 99611                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Dave Bear                                                                     
 P.O. Box 39283                                                                
 Ninilchik, Alaska 99639                                                       
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Mike Denison                                                                  
 44675 Wooded Lane                                                             
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Spencer Wyman                                                                 
 2800 Beaver Lp., #9                                                           
 Kenai, Alaska 99611                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Jim Cooper                                                                    
 248 W. Crest Dr.                                                              
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Ralph Dillon, Sr.                                                             
 P.O. Box 1023                                                                 
 Sterling, Alaska 99672                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Kenneth Roberts                                                               
 P.O. Box 626                                                                  
 Sterling, Alaska 99672                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Bill Baucum                                                                   
 P.O. Box 1595-2                                                               
 Kenai, Alaska 99611                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Robert Hensler                                                                
 35860 Silver Ave.                                                             
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Lee Martin                                                                    
 P.O. Box 743                                                                  
 Homer, Alaska 99603                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Sterling Eide                                                                 
 P.O. Box 151                                                                  
 Kenai, Alaska 99611                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Michael Masters                                                               
 HCR-1, Box 1480                                                               
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Jim Welborn                                                                   
 HC 01, Box 81                                                                 
 Kenai, Alaska 99611                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Bev Welborn                                                                   
 HC 01, Box 81                                                                 
 Kenai, Alaska 99611                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Greg Reser                                                                    
 44120 McLean Ct.                                                              
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Calvin Cary                                                                   
 P.O. Box 4153                                                                 
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 James Chapman                                                                 
 HC 1, Box 1502                                                                
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Dianna Chapman                                                                
 HC 1, Box 1502                                                                
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Gary Cadd                                                                     
 P.O. Box 1995                                                                 
 Kenai, Alaska 99611                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Mimi Tolva                                                                    
 P.O. Box 2117                                                                 
 Homer, Alaska 99603                                                           
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
 Shawn Roberts                                                                 
 HC 1, Box 8225                                                                
 Soldotna, Alaska 99669                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
 TAPE 93-34, SIDE A                                                            
 Number 001                                                                    
  CHAIRMAN   LEMAN  called the Senate State Affairs Committee                  
 meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.  Due to the lack of a quorum the                
 meeting was convened as a work session to take public                         
 testimony on  SJR 1  (RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS) and  SJR 34                
 (RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS) to be up for consideration.                     
                                                                               
  BRAD BRADNEY,  Kenai, asked if this was the exact language                   
 that would be adopted.  Senator Leman said it was possible to                 
 amend it still, but that the language fits in with the Alaska                 
 Constitution.                                                                 
                                                                               
  PORTIA BABCOCK , staff for Senate State Affairs, explained the               
 differences between the two bills.  The first sections are                    
 identical, but SJR 1 has a second section which has ambiguous                 
 and risky language according to a legal opinion from LAA.  SJR
 34 has language that is clearer, she said, and is supported                   
 by Senator Leman, other Senators, and organizations.                          
                                                                               
  MR. BRADNEY  opposed SJR 1 and supported SJR 34.  He agreed                  
 that the language in SJR 1 was unclear.                                       
                                                                               
 Number 175                                                                    
                                                                               
  WESLEY JONES,  Seward, supported SJR 34.                                     
                                                                               
  MICHAEL MOOTER,  Seward, supported SJR 34.                                   
                                                                               
  GORDON KESSLING,  Seward, supported SJR 34.                                  
                                                                               
  AMANUEL C. DABNEY,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                              
                                                                               
  ALVIN BAYER,  Homer, strongly supported SJR 34.                              
                                                                               
  TIM SMITH,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                                      
                                                                               
  R  U  SS MORRISON,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                              
                                                                               
 Number 217                                                                    
                                                                               
  TOM VOGEL,  Kenai, supported SJR 34.                                         
                                                                               
 Number 370                                                                    
                                                                               
  RICHARD DUBENDORF,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.  He asked why                
 the language was needed for court support of law enforcement.                 
  MS. BABCOCK  answered that at the time the leadership decided                
 they would not go any further with the bill without the                       
 support of the Chief of Police, the Governor, and the                         
 Department of Law.  They felt this language was needed.                       
                                                                               
  ROLAND CUSSON,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                                  
                                                                               
 Number 425                                                                    
                                                                               
  VERNON THORNTON,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                                
                                                                               
  MAY ALICE HOPKINS,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                              
                                                                               
  MIKE MATHEWS,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.  He said the idea                 
 was to clarify the right to bear arms which SJR 34 does best.                 
                                                                               
 Number 475                                                                    
                                                                               
  HENRY MOSER,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                                    
                                                                               
  THOMAS ELIASON,  Seward, supported SJR 34.                                   
                                                                               
  STEVEN H. MUSSMAN,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                              
                                                                               
  BOB BENEDICT,  Kenai, supported SJR 34.  He said that he has                 
 helped catch two burglars, and it was only because he had a                   
 gun.  The bad guys have them and the good guys need them too.                 
 He suggested we enact laws like England has that give ten                     
 years at the start just for using a gun and then add on the                   
 penalty for the crime besides.                                                
                                                                               
  JENEANE BENEDICT,  Kenai, supported SJR 34.  She said she                    
 always carries a hand gun to protect her life.                                
                                                                               
 TAPE 93-34, SIDE B                                                            
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
  BILL BOLES,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                                     
                                                                               
  JIM   JENCKES,  Kenai, supported SJR 34, because SJR 1 is not                
 compatible with the federal constitution.                                     
                                                                               
  DAVE BEAR,  Ninilchik, strongly supported SJR 34.                            
                                                                               
 Number 100                                                                    
                                                                               
  MIKE DENISON,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                                   
                                                                               
  SPENCER WYMAN,  Kenai, strongly supported SJR 34.                            
                                                                               
  JIM COOPER , Soldotna, strongly supported SJR 34.                            
                                                                               
  RALPH DILLON, SR.,  Sterling, strongly supported SJR 34.  He                 
 said he started taking his kids hunting when they were 5 years                
 old and he taught them the right way to use a gun.                            
                                                                               
  KENNETH ROBERTS,  Sterling, strongly supported SJR 34.                       
                                                                               
  BILL BAUCUM,  Kenai, supported SJR 34.                                       
                                                                               
  ROBERT HENSLER,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.  He said he sells               
 firearms.                                                                     
                                                                               
 Number 200                                                                    
                                                                               
  LEE MARTIN,  Homer, strongly supported SJR 34.                               
                                                                               
  STERLING EIDE,  Kenai, supported SJR 34.                                     
                                                                               
  MICHAEL MASTERS,  Soldotna, strongly supported SJR 34.                       
                                                                               
  JIM WELBORN,  Kenai, supported SJR 34.                                       
                                                                               
  BEV WELBORN,  Kenai, supported SJR 34.  She said she wanted to               
 be able to protect herself and her three daughters while her                  
 husband was gone.                                                             
                                                                               
  GREG RESER,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34 and opposed SJR 1.                   
                                                                               
 Number 350                                                                    
                                                                               
  CALVIN CARY,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                                    
                                                                               
  JAMES CHAPMAN,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                                  
                                                                               
  DIANNA CHAPMAN,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                                 
                                                                               
 Number 425                                                                    
                                                                               
    GARY CADD,  Kenai, supported SJR 34. He said that our freedoms             
 are under attack nationally.  He noted that the Alaska State                  
 Constitution did not contain a legal description of the State                 
 and so the federal government could override state authority.                 
                                                                               
  MIMI TOLVA,  Homer, supported SJR 34 and opposed SJR 1.                      
                                                                               
 Number 500                                                                    
                                                                               
  SHAWN ROBERTS,  Soldotna, supported SJR 34.                                  
                                                                               
  TAPE 93-35, SIDE A                                                           
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
  JIM WELBORN  said there would be a problem getting guns away                 
 from people if a law was passed against them.  He was                         
 concerned that prohibiting arms contributed subtly to the                     
 concept of a "world order" which is explained in a book called                
 The Order.                                                                  
  SENATOR LEMAN  thanked everyone for their participation and                  
 adjourned the meeting at 5:00 p.m.                                            
                                                                               

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