Lawmakers Discuss Gun Bills | Video

Retha Colclasure | 1/29/2013

North Dakota lawmakers will be taking up several bills dealing with gun ownership and concealed carry laws. The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on bills this morning. One bill would prevent an official from seizing weapons if a state of emergency has been declared. Another would allow people with a valid concealed carry license to carry guns in church or in school, if they have approval from the church or school leader.

The committee also heard testimony that would streamline the process to apply for a concealed carry permit. Right now, that application involves several different law enforcement agencies, and can take months for approval.

"You`re really pushing 80 to 100 days by the time we get the thing out, and that`s if there are no mistakes in the application. What this does is it streamlines that process, although not effecting the process itself as far as the public safety aspect," said ND Attorney General Chief Deputy Tom Trenbeath.

Lawmakers also discussed what changes could be made to North Dakota`s concealed carry permits that would allow the state to have reciprocity with Minnesota, something that has proved difficult to achieve in the past.

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