A clause in the freshly inked lease agreement for the new Vikings stadium bans a number of vendors from setting up shop in the facility, including adult stores, head shops, pawn shops and gun stores.
But at least one lawmaker objects. State Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, sent a letter to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which is overseeing the new facility, saying that he’s concerned the no-gun-shops clause could also ban hunting expos or other outdoorsmen events, the Pioneer Press reports.
The lawmaker says, “I’m also puzzled why the MSFA would single out law-abiding gun dealers, and put them in the same category as adults-only entertainment,” the Star Tribune reports.
Garofalo notes that taxpayers are paying for half the stadium cost.
The “People’s Stadium” should not arbitrarily prohibit gun events if they comply with other stadium rules and regulations, as well as federal, state and local laws, Garofalo said in the letter. (MPR posted the letter.)
“This provision was never included in the Metrodome lease, was not included in the new Vikings stadium legislation and was not identified as an issue or a problem that needed to be addressed prior to this agreement,” Garofalo said.
