(AK) Democratic Candidate On Campaign Trail, Needs Smaller Gun

[Drizzt]

Copyright 2002 Anchorage Daily News
Anchorage Daily News


July 22, 2002 Monday, FINAL EDITION

SECTION: METRO; Pg. B1

LENGTH: 954 words

HEADLINE: Ulmer's gun hard to hideSH: Candidate has permit, is shopping for weapon smaller than her .44-caliber Magnum revolver

BYLINE: By Don Hunter And Ben Spiess Anchorage Daily News TY: Staff

DATELINE: Galena

BODY:
With a new concealed weapons permit, Fran Ulmer says she's ready to hit the campaign trail, no matter where it may lead. Problem is, her only handgun is the wrong fit for the permit. Ulmer's long-barrel .44-caliber Magnum revolver is a shade big to slip beneath a suit jacket or stash in a handbag. So the lieutenant governor and Democrat candidate for governor is shopping for a gun. "I need something compact," Ulmer said as she mulled the display at Gordy Cruger's gun shop during a campaign stop last week at this Yukon River community.

Cruger showed off his alternatives: a titanium .22-caliber semiautomatic pistol, a titanium .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver or a .40-caliber Glock semiautomatic with a laser sight. "Nice and balanced," Ulmer pronounced, sighting the Glock. "I like that laser sight." Ulmer applied for her permit and took the requisite training course in May. The Department of Public Safety issued her permit earlier this month. Ulmer did not purchase any of the guns in Galena, but she says she plans to buy one soon. "On the campaign trail, it's nice to have extra protection in case someone does not have the best of intentions," she said. Ulmer grew up hunting and fishing in Wisconsin, she said. She already owns eight guns, including the Magnum. But most are rifles, and none are suited to the campaign trail. "I travel a lot. Often I travel alone. This isn't paranoia, but sometimes you are way out there by yourself and under certain circumstances you may want insurance." Republican gubernatorial candidate Wayne Ross, who also has a concealed weapons permit, dismissed Ulmer's gun shopping as posturing for the press. Ross is a zealous gun-rights advocate and a board member of the National Rifle Association. At one time, he owned hundreds of guns. He has since pared down his collection, he said. On hearing of Ulmer's search for a new gun, he asked: "She's only getting one?"

Greens go to convention The Alaska Green Party has sent a delegation to the national party's midterm convention, meeting this week in Philadelphia. The Alaska Greens are represented by U.S. House candidates Russ DeForest and Marilyn Russell of Fairbanks and by Diane Benson, the Green candidate for lieutenant governor on a ticket headed by Desa Jacobsson. "This is an exciting time for the Green Party," said Alaska party co-chairman Steve Cleary. "We are trying to take our democracy back and get people energized about politics again." Seventy-eight delegates from 39 states are attending the gathering in Philadelphia. The Greens have elected members to 155 elected positions across the country. Organizers describe the Greens convention as more open to debate and discourse and less scripted than major party conventions. According to the party's Web page, big business shenanigans are getting a lot of attention. "Corporations, seeking quick profits, have betrayed the future," said Elizabeth Shanklin, a candidate for Congress in New York's 17th district. "The Green Party is the party of the future."

16 on gubernatorial ballot Frank Murkowski and Fran Ulmer are getting most of the attention, but more than a dozen other candidates are seeking nominations to run for governor representing six parties at the Aug. 27 primary election. All told, 16 candidates will be on the ballot, half a dozen of them vying to head the Alaskan Independence Party ticket alone. Four Republicans, three Democrats, a Green, a Libertarian and a Republican Moderate fill out the slate. Voters won't be able to pick and choose among them all, however. Mainly because of federal court rulings and the Alaska Republican Party's desire to protect its ticket, this year's Alaska primary will be closed. Only registered party members and voters registered as nonpartisan or undeclared will be able to vote a party slate, and they'll have only one party's candidates to choose from. Besides Murkowski, the Republican U.S. Senate veteran, and Ulmer, a Democrat wrapping up her second term as lieutenant governor, several candidates have familiar names or have served in public office. Republican Wayne Ross, an Anchorage attorney well known to hunters and gun fanciers for his work in the National Rifle Association, is running. As is Nels Anderson Jr., of Dillingham, a former Democratic state lawmaker who recently switched to the Alaskan Independence Party. Democrat Michael Beasley of Fairbanks is in the mix, this time running against Ulmer for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination after decades of trying to win a seat in the U.S. Senate. Desa Jacobsson of Anchorage, a longtime Native activist who brought a spontaneous and flamboyant presence to the 1998 gubernatorial campaign, is back and running as a Green Party candidate. Dawn Mendias of Chugiak, an unsuccessful School Board candidate in 2000, is the Republican Moderate Party's entry. Billy Toien of Anchorage is the Libertarian Party's only gubernatorial candidate. The Alaskan Independence Party's 18,554 registered voters make it the state's third largest. Former Alaska Federation of Natives president Don Wright of Fairbanks is making his ninth bid for governor on the AI ballot, as are John Wayne Glotfelty of North Pole, Casey Cockerham of Fairbanks, Harold A. "Sandy" Haldane of Fairbanks, Samuel Acevedo Fevos Sr. of Salcha and the aforementioned Anderson, of Dillingham. Brad Snowden of Seward and Eric Wieler of Anchorage are competing with Ross and Murkowski for the Republican nomination, and Bruce Lemke of Anchorage is running against Ulmer and Beasley for the Democratic nomination.

[Drizzt]

The Associated Press State & Local Wire


July 22, 2002, Monday, BC cycle

SECTION: State and Regional

LENGTH: 573 words

HEADLINE: Ulmer stops campaigning to look for new gun

BYLINE: By MIKE CHAMBERS, Associated Press Writer

DATELINE: JUNEAU

BODY:
Running for governor in a state where gun control more often refers to marksmanship than new laws, Fran Ulmer would like to downsize a bit.

The Democrat gubernatorial candidate took a break while campaigning in Galena last week to shop for a new, smaller handgun.

Ulmer received her concealed handgun permit earlier this month and would like to find a gun that she can carry while campaigning, she said. Her .44-caliber Magnum revolver is perfect for bear protection, but not understated enough to be worn under a suit coat or in a purse, she said.

"Obviously, it needs to be a small, light handgun that isn't so awkward to carry that I wouldn't end up carrying it," Ulmer told The Associated Press.

Ulmer is vying to replace two-term Gov. Tony Knowles and become the first female elected to the office in the state's history.

And in a conservative state where candidates are adept at honing their anti-gun control messages, Ulmer too has a has gotten into the act.

She said she is opposed to any new laws restricting gun owners and her recent campaign newsletter highlights her "anti gun control message."

The Ulmer campaign took top honors at the July 13 Bear Paw Festival parade with a float depicting the candidate hunting for bears, the newsletter points out.

Ulmer notes that she grew up hunting and fishing with her father in Wisconsin and also has occasionally hunted for deer in Alaska with her husband.

As minority leader in the state House in 1994, she voted in favor of the state's concealed handgun permit law, she said.

In May, Ulmer took a handgun training course required under Alaska law and was issued her concealed handgun permit after fingerprinting and a background check.

She said no threats have been made against her, but that she expects to frequently travel alone during the campaign and would like "a little extra insurance."

Ulmer faces political longshots Michael Beasley and Bruce Lemke for her party's nomination in the Aug. 27 primary, but she is expected to have a tough fight for the Nov. 5 general election.

The Republican front-runner is U.S. Sen. Frank Murkowski, who also faces opposition from several candidates including Wayne Ross, a board member of the National Rifle Association.

In May, Ulmer took a handgun training course required under Alaska law and was issued her concealed handgun permit after fingerprinting and a background check.

She said no threats have been made against her, but that she expects to frequently travel alone during the campaign and would like "a little extra insurance."

Ulmer said she doesn't expect gun control to be an issue in the campaign and her stop at a Galena gun shop near the bed and breakfast she was staying at was not part of the campaign.

A Murkowski spokesman dismissed it as a campaign stunt and disputed Ulmer's record on gun control. The Knowles-Ulmer administration favored a plan to destroy confiscated weapons rather than sell them at auction, said Murkowski spokesman Dan Saddler.

"I think this is a pure campaign ploy, trying to get her picture in the paper carrying a gun," Saddler said.

It was only after a lawsuit by the GOP candidate Ross, who was attorney for the Alaska Gun Collectors Association, that the state agreed to sell some confiscated, surplus and unclaimed guns to licensed dealers.

Illegal guns such as sawed-off shotguns and fully automatic weapons are still destroyed.

[Waitone]

Be still my heart.

Does AK have open carry? If so a .44 mag is about right for a campaign.

[Blackhawk]

Interesting.

However, a Glock with a laser sight is an odd choice for a CCW, and I guess that's fitting....

[spacemanspiff]

as a matter of fact open carry is legal throughout alaska (thanks to a inquisitive phone call to the State Troopers office that handles the ccw applications).
some may recognize the name in the first article, of Wayne Ross. one of the articles written by Mr. Ayoob recently in one of the gun magazines detailed a case of self-defense up here in Alaska where Mr Ross defended a armed citizen who defended himself (or thought he was) from a supposed intruder. Mr Ross is referenced as the self defense attorney to call here in the state of alaska.

should any potential tourists consider open carrying throughout this state, be aware that there is some members of the various law enforcement (APD, State Troopers, Fish & Game) who are not happy with the populace armed. i say this, not out of personal experience, but from accounts of those who have had problems with law enforcement up here.

[carebear]

Open carry is not legal in some municipalities or incorporated areas, nor, as usual, in the national parks.

In Anchorage for instance, open carry is legal only if the gun is unloaded. Concealed carry on the person is illegal without a permit. Concealed carry in a vehicle, without permit, is legal ie carrying in glovebox or console.

Concealed carry, while engaged in a lawful sporting purpose, ie walking around in the woods, IS legal statewide without permit. Again, not in most towns or incorporated areas.

We should have near-universal reciprocity soon, you're better off with on permit carry.

Ross cause he's right, Murkowski cause he'll win.

[Keith_Yorktown]

Eight guns!!!

Why, I am shocked the press up there hasn't been indoctrinated to call it an arsenal yet...

[MatthewM]

Sounds just like California polititians!

Feinstein(D) U.S. Senator: "No one should have a gun, except me & my body guards."
Gov Grey-out Davis (D): "I won't sign anymore gun laws.... until right after elections. Then, I'll sign anything you dream up"

Gov-To-Be Bill Simon (R): "I'm pro-gun, just don't tell anyone. As soon as I'm elected, you'll never hear anything pro-gun from me again".

* Fantasy, but it would sure be nice if a couple Republican Senators get elected this fall. Then Bush nominated only extreme (pro freedom) constitutionalist judges. Then, the Supreme court wiped out 95% of all gun laws and all the other unconstitutional crap being heaped up for the last 70 years.

[spacemanspiff]

carebear, i called the concealed handgun permit program, and according to their office, open carry is now okay. they said that the concealed carry 'while engaged in lawful outdoor activities' was baloney. a concealed firearm on a person must be accompanied by a permit.
carrying in national parks is okay as well. i had to call several different organizations and departments to find this out. most of the people i talked to said it was okay, but i finally was transferred to a national park guard who said that carrying, concealed or open, was okay, but discharging of the weapon is illegal. UNLESS IT IS IN DEFENSE OF YOUR LIFE, i.e. bear or other predator attacking you.
i'm going to call them again, as it looks like some updates were made just in the last 2 weeks.
and as far as i can decipher it, on august 1, all concealed handgun permit holders from ALL states are going to be recognized here. i'm thinking its too good to be true though.

[Pendragon]

I lived there - in Wasilla, (right on Lake Lucille for a year)

from 11 years old to 16 years old.

Its a magical place and I miss it badly - pretty much the pola opposite of CA in almost every way (mostly in good ways, but also in some bad ways).

Does my heart good just to read about the state.

Been away over 15 years now.

[carebear]

Spaceman,

They're wrong.

AS 11.61.220. Misconduct Involving Weapons in the Fifth Degree.

(a) A person commits the crime of misconduct involving weapons in the fifth degree if the person


(1) knowingly possesses a deadly weapon, other than an ordinary pocket knife or a defensive weapon, that is concealed on the person;


(2) knowingly possesses a loaded firearm on the person in any place where intoxicating liquor is sold for consumption on the premises;


(3) being an unemancipated minor under 16 years of age, possesses a firearm without the consent of a parent or guardian of the minor;


(4) knowingly possesses a firearm


(A) within the grounds of or on a parking lot immediately adjacent to a center, other than a private residence, licensed under AS 14.37, AS 47.33, or AS 47.35 or recognized by the federal government for the care of children; or


(B) within a


(i) courtroom or office of the Alaska Court System; or


(ii) courthouse that is occupied only by the Alaska Court System and other justice-related agencies;


(C) within a domestic violence or sexual assault shelter that receives funding from the state; or


(5) possesses or transports a switchblade or a gravity knife.


(b) In a prosecution under (a)(1) of this section, it is an affirmative defense that the defendant, at the time of possession, was


(1) in the defendant's dwelling or on land owned or leased by the defendant appurtenant to the dwelling;


(2) actually engaged in lawful hunting, fishing, trapping, or other lawful outdoor activity that necessarily involves the carrying of a weapon for personal protection;


(3) the holder of a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun under AS 18.65.700 - 18.65.790 and the weapon was a concealed handgun as defined in AS 18.65.790 ; or


(4) considered a permittee under AS 18.65.748 and the weapon was a concealed handgun as defined in AS 18.65.790 .

The law hasn't changed in at least 20 years. Concealed carry didn't preempt this.

[spacemanspiff]

but that still involves being arrested, charged with the offenses, and defending it in court. that doesnt mean that people should carry their concealed weapons sans permit when biking the coastal trail or hiking from flattop to indian.

[carebear]

I agree, not sure too many cops would raise much of a stink if you were truly out of the Muni. though. I know the coastal trail falls under Anchorage's pre-emption so no carry w/o permit.

I THINK (not sure) that in Chugach State Park, flattop to indian, it's state land and you'd be ok.

Like you I'd rather rely on my permit than on their discretion and me quoting statute at them.

Anybody you know checked to see how many states the new reciprocity will get us?

[spacemanspiff]

i just discovered the new reciprocity a few hours ago. and since all it says is "all states", i'm having a tough time avoiding a surge of optimism.
is there any other states that offer full reciprocity to valid concealed handgun permit holders from all other states?

[Cosmoline]

I love this state. Even our leftist Democrats are pro-gun. I long for the day when the biggest issue on the national scene is the size of the candidate's firearm!

The exception for CCW on the trails is supposed to keep you from getting charged if your coat covers your .44 magnum. To my knowledge it has never been tested at the appellate level. That's one for Ross to take on. His office is two blocks away from here, BTW. I've carried concealed in Chugach many times. Frankly I'm more likely to carry a rifle, but either way nobody has given me trouble over it other than the foreign tourists who run away.

[Ben Swenson]

is there any other states that offer full reciprocity to valid concealed handgun permit holders from all other states?

I'm pretty sure Indiana does.

[Hutch]

Kentucky does. See www.packing.org for more.