MOA Disarms Patrons after al-Shabaab Threat
This past Saturday on February 21st, 2015 the terrorist organization al-Shabaab threatened Minnesota’s Mall of America (MOA). The threat from an approximately 6 minute long video also included London’s “Oxford Street” and Alberta’s “West Edmonton Mall.” This has a lot of people on high alert with heightened concern, and rightfully so! MOA is 87 acres large (4.8 Million Ft²) and that is an immense area to protect with over 40 million visitors annually. The MOA security staff is trying to ensure its patrons that they are safe while spending their hard, earned money there, but the mall recently redecorated with some of these below.
What scares me in all of this is not only does terrorism hit home when its quite literally in your home state, but MOA’s immediate knee-jerk reaction was to disarm all their patrons. How will disarming every legal carry holder who patronizes the mall save anyone’s lives?… It may ensure more deaths, but not save anyone. If someone made a personal threat against your home (similar to the threat against the mall) would your immediate reaction be to remove all your firearms so you are now defenseless knowing someone has threatened your life?… Seems pretty moronic, doesn’t it.
What people seem to have slowly forgotten is al-Shabaab was the terrorist organization that killed over 60 people in 2013 in a Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. They have been identified as a formidable, world threat by the United States since 2007. Also, the way in which terrorists now attack is different from that of September 11th. They no longer are as methodical, organized, military-like, and predictable in their movements. They use open forums such as social media to recruit people towards their cause and individuals will often act alone on an idea with no prior notice. It has been documented that from ’07 – ’09 that 22 individuals were recruited to join al-Shabaab from the Twin Cities area. The Twin Cities also boasts the United States’ largest population of Somali-Americans. More recently, 15 individuals have left MN and the U.S. to fight along side the Islamic State in the Middle East. This terrorist group isn’t as infant as people paint them to be, and they revel in their successful strikes against others.
Let’s take a step back and examine that sign that MOA posted again. When any establishment posts a sign such as that there are multiple standards or stipulations that must be met in order for it to be truly legal. It needs to have the letters a certain size, certain font, spaced adjacent to doorways in a certain fashion, and must be placed by all entrances to the establishment. This is all fine and dandy, but MOA can’t legally post such a sign… AT ALL. The MOA is a landlord to all of the businesses or tenants it houses. If every single business in the MOA wanted they could place a similar sign outside their establishment and it would hold legal weight, but it is plainly defined in MN law that: “A landlord may not restrict the lawful carry or possession of firearms by tenants or their guests” (MN Statute 624.714 Subd. 17 Sect. E). So not only is the MOA corralling sheep prime for terrorizing by posting that sign, but IT’S ILLEGAL.
Some of our legislators are recognizing this, and I especially applaud one individual, Rep. Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder). He made the remark recently that if MOA is going to place those illegal signs that they should at least do it in multiple foreign languages so terrorists know to leave their guns at the door. Seems logical to me. If you’re going to disarm law-abiding citizens then why not disarm terrorists…
Hopefully the MOA will understand that legal carry holders are their friends. Legal carry holders will detour attacks and prevent casualties in the event of an attack. Legal carry holders are not the problem.
These statistics were gathered and presented as such by the MN Gun Owners Political Action Committee.
With data like that before you, it seems even more confusing why the MOA would want to disarm it’s patrons. I hope for MN, the Mall of America, and the United States, that strong action can be made to detour any attack whatsoever, but only time will tell.
Click here to review MN Statute 624.714 Subdivision 17
Click here to visit the MN Gun Owners Political Action Committee Facebook page
Click here to visit The Guns and Gear Store website
The only thing that PREVENTED many, many more people from murder here in Clackamas county Oregon at the Clackamas mall a few years back, was that a Concealed Carry Permit holder carrying a pistol… pointed his firearm at the attacker who has already killed a few ladies.. The attacker realized his end was near and took his own life. The recent Colorado theatre killer… passed many theatres that allowed CC permit holders in and wen to the one that posted, no firearms allowed on the premises.. These private organizations are idiotic not to allow widespread legal CC permit holders to carry and augment security.
Deter*
There is nothing “illegal” about the signage or policy. You are 100% wrong. And out of line.
The MOA has been has been anti carry since carry existed. It is posted on EVERY entrance. The anchor stores have all of thier doors posted. The MOA has all of the common entrances posted as well . Those are private property, and properly posted.
Don’t like it? Don’t shop there,
No way you’d find me even going near that place, unless they want to post 100 troops with full auto ar-15s or ak-47s. Congratulation MOA, you’ve officially turned your mall into a death trap.
One word: BOYCOTT
John s,
You sir, are incorrect.
The manner in which they have displayed the sign physically is whats in “accordance with Mn state law” referring to font, where it is posted, etc. but but given the nature of their business as a landlord, they cannot restrict the guests of their tenants to carry.
It does not matter how anti gun they are or how long they’ve hated guns, they can’t do anything about it.
This article is perfectly in line by pointing out how the mall is trying to trick people into not carrying by posting a misleading sign.
No I don’t like it, yes I will still shop there, and in accordance with MN state law I will be carrying my firearm while I am there, because in reality there isn’t anything they can do that will guarantee my safety. Like another poster suggested about 100 troops with full auto ar’s and ak’s etc. will still not guarantee safety. We carry to improve our odds and maybe someone else’s.
Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SEO?
I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not
seeing very good results. If you know of any please share.
Appreciate it!
I use Yoast WordPress SEO