Desertdog
September 16, 2003, 12:49 AM
Capitol Watch: Gun horror stories shared
By Matt Pommer
September 15, 2003
To hear gun advocates talk, you'd think a law allowing the carrying of concealed weapons would solve a myriad of problems, largely by scaring criminals from committing violent crimes.
But a Madison woman last week reminded a legislative committee that toting guns also can create a different culture. Diana Pitterle said she returned to Wisconsin after living in North Carolina for 16 years. The Tar Heel state adopted a concealed carry law late in 1995, and the pervasive gun violence in Durham led to her return here.
"Off the top of my head, I can name three people who carried a concealed gun," she told the committee. "Jeanine carried one because she was fearful of her husband. She knew he always had a gun. So she got one too.
"Danny worked in construction sales and was fearful of the people he had to deal with in certain neighborhoods, so he needed one. My neighbor, Henry, told me he felt afraid all the time so he was getting a gun. Three months later he was dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound."
Pitterle said it was a relief to come to Wisconsin and see some high schools without metal detectors. Durham had "state of the art" metal detectors to prevent guns getting into the schools.
"Of course, I'm not sure that prevented students from having guns in their cars," she added.
"Many people carried weapons in their cars. One man used his to shoot a driver in front of him who had nearly caused a rear-end collision on a freeway entrance ramp.
"Another day, I was in a parking lot with my daughter when two men starting arguing and suddenly sprinted to their cars and drew their weapons. As I screamed to my daughter, 'Hit the dirt!' they glanced my way, then laughed and tossed their guns back into their vehicles," she testified.
"The gun violence resulted in many innocents losing their lives. A woman living four blocks from my home died of a gunshot wound. It made an impact because she was on the phone when she was struck by a stray bullet that came through her living room window.
"The tape of her screaming in surprise, 'I'm shot! I'm shot!' was played by local TV stations. She died."
Because so many people had weapons, there were times when they fell into the wrong hands. A Durham kindergartner took a handgun to school to show his friend. Fortunately someone mentioned it to a teacher before any accident occurred.
"In another incident, a disturbed high school student shot and killed the girl that would not date him as she talked with friends in the school parking lot," said Pitterle.
"And one evening, I surprised one of my neighbors' stepdaughter and her boyfriend as they were breaking into her stepfather's car to get his gun. Luckily the couple left abruptly, and no one got hurt."
Last week Missouri became the 45th state in the nation to adopt a concealed carry law. The Legislature overrode Gov. Bob Holden's veto to create the law. The Show Me state's decision was hailed by those promoting concealed carry for Wisconsin.
"I believe the action in Missouri only reiterates that this isn't a radical, new idea for most of our nation," said state Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Union Grove. He said concealed weapon laws lead to a decrease in crime.
The Wisconsin legislation defines weapons to include handguns, electrical weapons, tear gas guns, knives other than switchblades and billy clubs. If a weapon were illegal under federal law or another Wisconsin statue, a person could not carry it concealed.
Currently carrying a concealed weapon is a class A misdemeanor in Wisconsin, with a maximum $10,000 fine and/or nine months in jail. So far this year there have been 64 counts of concealed weapons charges brought by authorities.
State Sen. Dave Zien, R-Eau Claire, the Senate's chief author of the latest bill, clearly sees concealed carry as a wedge issue for Republicans. Zien sees possible Republican gains if the bill is vetoed by Gov. Jim Doyle and Democrats vote with the governor on a veto override.
But Doyle is not the first Wisconsin governor to oppose legalizing the carrying of concealed weapons. In 1995 Gov. Tommy Thompson - Wisconsin's most skillful politician in a half century - killed the idea before pro-gun folks had a chance to get the measure off the ground. E-mail: mpommer@madison.com
Published: 11:34 AM 9/15/03
http://www.madison.com/captimes/news/stories/56801.php
By Matt Pommer
September 15, 2003
To hear gun advocates talk, you'd think a law allowing the carrying of concealed weapons would solve a myriad of problems, largely by scaring criminals from committing violent crimes.
But a Madison woman last week reminded a legislative committee that toting guns also can create a different culture. Diana Pitterle said she returned to Wisconsin after living in North Carolina for 16 years. The Tar Heel state adopted a concealed carry law late in 1995, and the pervasive gun violence in Durham led to her return here.
"Off the top of my head, I can name three people who carried a concealed gun," she told the committee. "Jeanine carried one because she was fearful of her husband. She knew he always had a gun. So she got one too.
"Danny worked in construction sales and was fearful of the people he had to deal with in certain neighborhoods, so he needed one. My neighbor, Henry, told me he felt afraid all the time so he was getting a gun. Three months later he was dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound."
Pitterle said it was a relief to come to Wisconsin and see some high schools without metal detectors. Durham had "state of the art" metal detectors to prevent guns getting into the schools.
"Of course, I'm not sure that prevented students from having guns in their cars," she added.
"Many people carried weapons in their cars. One man used his to shoot a driver in front of him who had nearly caused a rear-end collision on a freeway entrance ramp.
"Another day, I was in a parking lot with my daughter when two men starting arguing and suddenly sprinted to their cars and drew their weapons. As I screamed to my daughter, 'Hit the dirt!' they glanced my way, then laughed and tossed their guns back into their vehicles," she testified.
"The gun violence resulted in many innocents losing their lives. A woman living four blocks from my home died of a gunshot wound. It made an impact because she was on the phone when she was struck by a stray bullet that came through her living room window.
"The tape of her screaming in surprise, 'I'm shot! I'm shot!' was played by local TV stations. She died."
Because so many people had weapons, there were times when they fell into the wrong hands. A Durham kindergartner took a handgun to school to show his friend. Fortunately someone mentioned it to a teacher before any accident occurred.
"In another incident, a disturbed high school student shot and killed the girl that would not date him as she talked with friends in the school parking lot," said Pitterle.
"And one evening, I surprised one of my neighbors' stepdaughter and her boyfriend as they were breaking into her stepfather's car to get his gun. Luckily the couple left abruptly, and no one got hurt."
Last week Missouri became the 45th state in the nation to adopt a concealed carry law. The Legislature overrode Gov. Bob Holden's veto to create the law. The Show Me state's decision was hailed by those promoting concealed carry for Wisconsin.
"I believe the action in Missouri only reiterates that this isn't a radical, new idea for most of our nation," said state Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Union Grove. He said concealed weapon laws lead to a decrease in crime.
The Wisconsin legislation defines weapons to include handguns, electrical weapons, tear gas guns, knives other than switchblades and billy clubs. If a weapon were illegal under federal law or another Wisconsin statue, a person could not carry it concealed.
Currently carrying a concealed weapon is a class A misdemeanor in Wisconsin, with a maximum $10,000 fine and/or nine months in jail. So far this year there have been 64 counts of concealed weapons charges brought by authorities.
State Sen. Dave Zien, R-Eau Claire, the Senate's chief author of the latest bill, clearly sees concealed carry as a wedge issue for Republicans. Zien sees possible Republican gains if the bill is vetoed by Gov. Jim Doyle and Democrats vote with the governor on a veto override.
But Doyle is not the first Wisconsin governor to oppose legalizing the carrying of concealed weapons. In 1995 Gov. Tommy Thompson - Wisconsin's most skillful politician in a half century - killed the idea before pro-gun folks had a chance to get the measure off the ground. E-mail: mpommer@madison.com
Published: 11:34 AM 9/15/03
http://www.madison.com/captimes/news/stories/56801.php