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http://www.jsonline.com/news/State/sep03/171096.asp
Doyle vows to veto concealed arms bill
Governor's decision criticized by GOP as 'premature'
By STEVEN WALTERS, ANNYSA JOHNSON and DENNIS CHAPTMAN
[email protected]
Last Updated: Sept. 19, 2003
Gov. Jim Doyle said Friday he will not sign into law a bill legalizing concealed weapons that the Legislature is poised to pass - an announcement loudly applauded by more than 1,000 people at a Milwaukee luncheon that honored women.
In Madison, Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer (R-West Bend) said it was unfortunate Doyle made that veto promise Friday, especially because it is still unclear exactly what the Legislature will end up sending to him.
"I think it is premature of the governor, until he sees the final form of the bill, to comment on it," she said.
Doyle's comments came just before the start of the Legislature's fall session next week and as Republicans who control both Assembly and Senate push to make Wisconsin the 46th state to allow the carrying of concealed weapons.
"There are people in this state who believe we will be much safer if we can carry concealed weapons and . . . if we're all armed," Doyle said, making it clear he was not one of them.
He told the Women & Public Policy luncheon he would not sign the legislation when it arrives on his desk.
Doyle spokesman Dan Leistikow said Friday the change being pushed by Republicans is unacceptable to the Democratic governor.
"The governor has said that he respects the decision of the Supreme Court that found that shop owners and homeowners have the right to protect themselves on their own property," Leistikow said. "But the bill in the Legislature goes way beyond that - allowing guns in churches and day care centers. And it weakens restrictions against guns in school zones."
Backers won't give up
State Rep. Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford), co-sponsor of the legislation, said he hopes Wisconsin residents who favor allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons for their own protection will contact Doyle's office to express their support.
"I hope the governor will take a very, very, very hard look at this legislation when it hits his desk," Gunderson said. "I really believe that the percentage of people in this state who favor this legislation is much greater than what one would be led to believe."
Backers of the bill say anyone over 21 who pays for a $75 permit, passes a criminal background check and a 22-hour firearms training class and is not mentally incompetent or drug or alcohol dependent should be able to carry a handgun.
That, they say, would deter crime, because criminals would not know which of their victims might be armed and ready to defend themselves. Critics of the bill say it would make handguns more common and make the state a less-safe place.
Gunderson noted that similar legislation passed the state Assembly on a 58-40 vote in February 2002. That bill later died in a Democratic Senate, but Republicans now control both houses, although not by the two-thirds margins necessary to override a governor's veto.
A political risk?
James Fendry, director of the Wisconsin Pro-Gun Movement, predicted a Doyle veto of the legislation could put Democratic lawmakers on the hot seat after they narrowly upheld his controversial veto of a cap on local property taxes last month.
"It's a poor move," Fendry said Friday of a possible Doyle veto.
"Since the governor has already endangered a number of his fellow Democrats when he asked them to sustain his veto of a tax freeze, I think it's going to be very hard for the governor to go back to his party and ask lawmakers to remain against this (weapons) bill," Fendry said.
The state Senate came within one vote of overriding Doyle's veto of a state provision that would have limited local governments' tax levies next year.
Fendry also noted that the Missouri Legislature this month overrode Gov. Bob Holden's veto of similar legislation, making Missouri the 45th state to have some sort of concealed carry law.
"The governor should certainly see by the other 45 states that the entire nation will have a concealed-carry law, certainly within the next few years," Fendry said, adding that he hopes Doyle will reconsider his position.
Annysa Johnson reported from Milwaukee; Steven Walters and Dennis Chaptman reported from Madison.
From the Sept. 20, 2003 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Doyle vows to veto concealed arms bill
Governor's decision criticized by GOP as 'premature'
By STEVEN WALTERS, ANNYSA JOHNSON and DENNIS CHAPTMAN
[email protected]
Last Updated: Sept. 19, 2003
Gov. Jim Doyle said Friday he will not sign into law a bill legalizing concealed weapons that the Legislature is poised to pass - an announcement loudly applauded by more than 1,000 people at a Milwaukee luncheon that honored women.
In Madison, Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer (R-West Bend) said it was unfortunate Doyle made that veto promise Friday, especially because it is still unclear exactly what the Legislature will end up sending to him.
"I think it is premature of the governor, until he sees the final form of the bill, to comment on it," she said.
Doyle's comments came just before the start of the Legislature's fall session next week and as Republicans who control both Assembly and Senate push to make Wisconsin the 46th state to allow the carrying of concealed weapons.
"There are people in this state who believe we will be much safer if we can carry concealed weapons and . . . if we're all armed," Doyle said, making it clear he was not one of them.
He told the Women & Public Policy luncheon he would not sign the legislation when it arrives on his desk.
Doyle spokesman Dan Leistikow said Friday the change being pushed by Republicans is unacceptable to the Democratic governor.
"The governor has said that he respects the decision of the Supreme Court that found that shop owners and homeowners have the right to protect themselves on their own property," Leistikow said. "But the bill in the Legislature goes way beyond that - allowing guns in churches and day care centers. And it weakens restrictions against guns in school zones."
Backers won't give up
State Rep. Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford), co-sponsor of the legislation, said he hopes Wisconsin residents who favor allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons for their own protection will contact Doyle's office to express their support.
"I hope the governor will take a very, very, very hard look at this legislation when it hits his desk," Gunderson said. "I really believe that the percentage of people in this state who favor this legislation is much greater than what one would be led to believe."
Backers of the bill say anyone over 21 who pays for a $75 permit, passes a criminal background check and a 22-hour firearms training class and is not mentally incompetent or drug or alcohol dependent should be able to carry a handgun.
That, they say, would deter crime, because criminals would not know which of their victims might be armed and ready to defend themselves. Critics of the bill say it would make handguns more common and make the state a less-safe place.
Gunderson noted that similar legislation passed the state Assembly on a 58-40 vote in February 2002. That bill later died in a Democratic Senate, but Republicans now control both houses, although not by the two-thirds margins necessary to override a governor's veto.
A political risk?
James Fendry, director of the Wisconsin Pro-Gun Movement, predicted a Doyle veto of the legislation could put Democratic lawmakers on the hot seat after they narrowly upheld his controversial veto of a cap on local property taxes last month.
"It's a poor move," Fendry said Friday of a possible Doyle veto.
"Since the governor has already endangered a number of his fellow Democrats when he asked them to sustain his veto of a tax freeze, I think it's going to be very hard for the governor to go back to his party and ask lawmakers to remain against this (weapons) bill," Fendry said.
The state Senate came within one vote of overriding Doyle's veto of a state provision that would have limited local governments' tax levies next year.
Fendry also noted that the Missouri Legislature this month overrode Gov. Bob Holden's veto of similar legislation, making Missouri the 45th state to have some sort of concealed carry law.
"The governor should certainly see by the other 45 states that the entire nation will have a concealed-carry law, certainly within the next few years," Fendry said, adding that he hopes Doyle will reconsider his position.
Annysa Johnson reported from Milwaukee; Steven Walters and Dennis Chaptman reported from Madison.
From the Sept. 20, 2003 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
