Scenario

Recently, in a community in your patrol district, a man was walking along one of the neighborhood's walking paths with his dog. Two young men came out from behind some shrubbery. One of the men presents a knife, and the other man points a Taser at the victim.

The man with the knife demands all the victim's money. The victim pulls out his pistol and shoots the man with the knife. The young man with the Taser drops it and lays down on the walking path, giving up. The police arrive and arrest the person with the Taser (15-year-old), and they take the other man to the hospital where he is recovering.

You have been assigned to lead a community meeting that has been called by the neighborhood watch leaders and some citizens. They are concerned about crimes happening along the walking paths. This most recent crime seems to mark a rise in potential harm because now there are weapons involved, and the crimes seem to be getting more violent.

You are leading the Q & A portion of the community meeting, and you have been asked to respond to the following questions. Your Sergeant has told you to give explanations that both inform and satisfy the citizens at the meeting.

1. Can anyone carry a gun on their person?
2. Where can't a person legally carry a gun as they are out and about in public?
3. Is it okay to carry a pistol on the walking path? Why or why not?
4. When is a permit holder not allowed to carry their pistol?
5. How old do you have to be to possess a pistol? When can someone under this required age be in possession of a pistol?
6. How is it that this 15-year-old had a taser? Can people other than cops possess an electronic incapacitation device?

Make sure to include:

1. Explanations to the questions from the community members at the meeting.
2. Supporting evidence to your answers by referencing the proper statute information and level of offense.
3. Other information you feel will help inform and satisfy the community citizens at this meeting.

Reference: all answers must be answered with Minnesota Statutes in mind.