For Immediate Release

Date: June 6, 2003
Contact: Kelly Griffith, Marketing Manager, 612-492-7514
Email: kgriffith@fredlaw.com

Minneapolis, June 6, 2003 – Today Hennepin County District Court Judge Marilyn Brown Rosenbaum granted in part the preliminary motion of Edina Community Lutheran Church to prevent the so-called “conceal-carry law” from going into effect as against the Church. She ruled that the religious plaintiffs may prohibit firearms from their houses of worship “in any lawful manner,” without following what she called the “onerous” signage and personal notification provisions of the new law. She left open the other challenges to the law pending her review of the law’s legislative history.

Pastor Erik Strand of the Church responded:

“We give thanks that the Judge has recognized the effect that the state-dictated signs and personal notification have on our right to worship. This preliminary decision helps our church continue with our mission of welcome and peacemaking. We also give thanks that so many other churches, synagogues and other faith communities (including this week the Catholic and Methodist churches of Minnesota) have joined us in what is now an ecumenical case.”

The Church’s attorney, David Lillehaug, commented: “Injunctions such as these are rarely given, so this preliminary decision is an excellent start. The Judge left open several other issues, and we’ll continue to pursue all aspects of the case.”