Elk River Harley Shop Welcoming Gun Owners, Enthusiasts with Saturday Expo

Alpha Apparel and Promotions and TwinCities Gun Owners and Carry Forum will host Minnesota Carry Day & Safety Education Expo 2013 at Zylstra Harley Davidson, Elk River, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2

The day-long family- and kid-friendly event is free to attend and is intended to create awareness about Minnesota’s permit-to-carry law and the growing number of nearly 160,000 permit holders in Minnesota, and to highlight the importance of the safe and responsible ownership, use and carrying of firearms, organizers said. 

The event will also offer education related to self defense and personal safety for the whole family. Attendees will find vendor tables, free lunch served throughout the day, a kids’ “Learn Safety” room and outreach specifically targeted for women and business owners.

Attendees may also sign up for a raft of free workshops throughout the day from presenters including the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department which will help business owners understand the permit-to-carry law (Minnesota Citizen’s Personal Protection Act and your Business), and Sealed Mindset, a Navy SEAL-inspired defense training center which will present workshops on self defense for both kids and adults. 

The event is co-sponsored by Alpha Apparel & Promotions, Elk River, whose owner, Gretchen Morris, helped facilitate the event with assistance from the event’s other co-sponsor Twin Cities Gun Owners and Carry Forum, a community-based gun rights interest group.

Morris, who herself is new to guns and is in the process of obtaining her permit-to-carry, helped plan the event as a way to reach out to others in the community, especially women, who may be intimidated about seeking information. Several informational workshops will be interspersed throughout the day and will include: Overviews on permit-to-carry training; Firearms safety; Gunownership 101 for women; Information to help business owners understand Minnesota’s permit-to-carry law; Personal safety for kids and adults; "less-than-lethal" personal and home defense products; Legislation overviews and political action information;

Tips to help gun owners get involved in sharing information about 2nd Amendment rights. Workshop seating will be limited and there will be sign up sheets at the door. Several vendors have donated door prizes including .22 ammo and range passes. The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department will also have give-aways, while supplies last, and will provide informational materials for the kids’ “Learn Safety” room. 

Not Just for Gun Owners 

The event includes vendors and workshops that will present safety tips as well as information on other forms of self defense and less-than-lethal personal safety products. Area business owners are invited to attend the “Minnesota Citizen’s Personal Protection Act and your Business” workshop presented by the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department to help them better understand Minnesota’s permit-to-carry law as it relates to their business, their customers and their employees.

IF YOU GO: 
When:  Saturday, November 2, 2013, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
What: Free workshop presentations. Free lunch served throughout the day.Family friendly, kid friendly.
Where: Zylstra Harley Davidson, 19600 Evans St. NW, Elk 

Vendrors and presenters* (not all vendors will present workshops, see workshop schedule, below): 
Chief Deputy Don Starry, Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department(Website: http://www.co.sherburne.mn.us/sheriff/) 
DAP Recovery & Security LLC: Permit-to-carry and firearms safety training(Located in the Twin Cities metro.
Lakes Trading Company: Gun shop and indoor range(Located in Forest Lake, MN. Website:) 
Pistol Packin’ Mamas: Products, accessories and information to equip women in all aspects of gun ownership through home parties, trade shows and special events
Sealed Mindset: Education and training for personal safety(
Stun & Run Self Defense LLC: Less-than-lethal personal safety and home defense solutions(Located in Minneapolis, MN.
Target Sports Minnesota: Indoor gun range(Located in Otsego, MN. Website: ) 
Twin Cities Gun Owners & Carry Forum: Community based gun rights interest group
Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance: Promoting and defending the civil rights of law-abiding gun owners in Minnesota
Minnesota Gun Owners Political Action Committee: Legislative and political action information(Website:) 
Alpha Apparel and Promotional Products: Embroidery, Screenprinting and Promotional Items for businesses, organizations and personal use