Hunting and fishing are controlled by DNR - Not cities! Shooting an arrow into the water is no more dangerous, actually less dangerous, than throwing lures with treble hooks through the air. But then again, like most everything else this is more about control than safety itself.

"menacing-looking bows"---- You guys are a riot...

mankato58 summed it all up completely and correctly

This is pretty ridiculous, bowfishing is as traditional to Minnesota as fishing, both activities are already regulated by DNR, so in reality no new laws are needed. If the municipalities figure they "need" to regulate bowfishing, all they would have to do is adopt the DNR's regs to their municipal codes. I agree with the first poster who opined this is more about exerting municipal control than any safety issue. The Strib never lets me down in that if the subject involves hunting or weapons in any fashion, they find a way to demonize them. Really Strib, "menacing looking bows"?. Come on...

We're not going to give them a blank check? What the heck is that? You can't give them a blank check; the DNR already regulates bow fishing. Clearly Ms. Peterson's stance is that they need control and the discretion to arrest anyone anytime. How is it that she feels she can speak for the Council? Who's running the show?

More small business job killing gov't regulations from conservatitive suburban cities. Next they'll start whining that gov't is too big and their taxes are too high.

A fiberglass arrow, shot down into water, attached to a string and can go about 10 yards......Yup, those home owners better be affraid.

I would like to clarify one more bit of misinformation in the article: Bowfishing arrows are not tipped with broadheads. Bowfishing uses a toggle type tip that stays small as it passes through and then expands as you pull it back. This is how you can pull a fish in rather than just pulling the arrow out. Broadheads are cutting tips that, as described in this article, expand on impact to create a larger cutting circle. Broadheads are used in hunting big game, not fish.

Ms. Peterson's comments are emblematic of the problems a free society faces — well intentioned persons feeling compelled to control behavior. Like a snowball rolling down a hill these statist leanings gather momentum and size as they roll along. And the sad thing is, this is nothing more than a legal solution in search of a non-existent problem. Each time it happens, freedom erodes a bit more.

"Menacing looking bows" Nice sensationalized article there.