T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

A bill the Senate author believes could have saved the life of Katie Poirier went before the Senate Crime Prevention Committee on Tuesday (March 1).

Sen. Wesley Skoglund, DFL-Minneapolis, introduced legislation that directs the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to cross check Minnesotans purchasing hunting license to see whether theyíre eligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law.

ìI am of the opinion that if this were law ten years ago, Katie Poirier would be alive today,î said Skoglund, referring to the young Moose Lake clerk kidnapped and murdered by Donald Blom in 1999.

Blom had purchased hunting licenses, though should not have been in possession of firearms.

Skoglund acknowledges that someone with a criminal past unable to possess a firearm could purchase a hunting license with the intention of group hunting ó of hunting with others without carrying a gun ó but he questions how many do.

Skoglund looks to Minnesotaís CriMNet ó an integrated communication system linking various branches of law enforcement ó as the vehicle to accomplish the cross-checking.

A CriMNet official testified the cross-checking could readily be done.

Information culled from the cross-check would be supplied to the DNR, Department of Corrections, and other law enforcement agencies.

A Department of Corrections officials testified the cross-check would be useful for parole officers ó officers overseeing as many as 100 parolees ó because itís unrealistic that they could do it themselves.

The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association spokesperson called Skoglundís bill ìa reasonable position.î

One criticism voiced in the Senate committee is that the legislation as proposed doesnít provide information quick enough to law enforcement.

Skoglund said he would try to speed up the process.

The senator was pleased with reception the bill received in the Crime Prevention Committee.

ìI was astounded by the support yesterday,î said Skoglund. He has had trouble in the past advancing the bill, he explained.
ìItís such a common sense bill,î he said.

Skoglund said he didnít know how many suspicious cross-matches the computer check would find.

He guessed it might range from 150 to 200 people.

The bill currently doesnít have a House author.

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