Iconic malls like the Mall Of America in Minnesota and West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada have been singled out by the Somali terrorist organization al-Shabaab in their latest video. The call for attacks on such places have obviously created a stir around the nation and especially in Minnesota.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population outside of Somalia. This has led to a number of “home-grown” terrorist stories coming out of Minnesota over the last few years. Since 2007, at least 22 young Somali refugees have left Minnesota to join al-Shabab in their homeland. Some have died there, and some were even praised as “Minnesota martyrs” in an al-Shabab video released last year. Some in The Gopher State have even started referring to Minneapolis as “Little Mogadishu.”
So it would come as no surprise that many mall goers at the Mall of America would like the ability to be able to defend themselves should they find themselves in the midst of a terrorist attack. Unfortunately for them, Mall of America has a strict No Gun policy allowed and proudly displays this policy on large signs near mall entrances. One local Minnesota official who is in favor of gun rights has finally had enough.
Rep. Tony Cornish (MN)
Representative Tony Cornish (R-Vernon Center), chair of the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee, said the signs create a “killing zone” at the Mall of America. Cornish called the signs at the Mall of America “completely worthless.” Can we get a round of applause for Mr. Cornish?
Rep. Cornish goes on to echo the sentiment of most pro-gun advocates:
“This is completely ridiculous. The complete opposite of what they should be doing,” he said. “If we’re threatened with an attack, the last thing you want to do is disarm citizens.”
Can we get a second round of applause for Mr. Cornish? You would think that anyone with even a half of brain would understand that signs do not enforce laws. Criminals will not obey signs that say “no guns.” The only people that this sign deters are law abiding legal gun owners who wish to be able to defend themselves should the need arise.
Posting “Gun Free Zone” signs out in front of schools or malls is nothing more than pandering to those who want to believe in the illusion of safety. Those who want to believe that these signs have magical abilities to stop someone with the intent to injure or kill is simply irresponsible and dangerous. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun – and these signs all but forbid good guys from being on scene when bad guys start doing bad things.
Let’s hope that The Mall of America listens to the words of Rep. Cornish and rethinks their policy. Perhaps it could start a trend in the rest of the country to remove these ridiculous signs in other places too.
