The New GUN WEEK, October 1, 2003
Page 2
Heavy Hearing Turnout Favors CCW Legislation in Wisconsin
by Dave Workman
Senior Editor
Promising quick action on a concealed carry bill now that
the Wisconsin legislature is back in session, Sen. Dave
Zien (R Eau Claire) is encouraged about his chances based on
a heavy turnout of concealed carry (CCW) proponents at a
public hearing Sept. 9 in Madison.
“We had one of the biggest public hearings we’ve ever heard
of,†Zien recalled. “We had four full rooms, plus the
hallways were filled. It was standing room only.â€
Zien said there were so many citizens at the hearing that
not everyone had a chance to speak. However, 78 people
spoke in favor of legislation--SB-214 sponsored by Zien,
and the identical AB-444, sponsored by Rep. Scott Gunderson
(R-Waterford)— while only 30 speakers opposed it. That 2:1
ratio was overshadowed by the number of people who actually
signed up to testify, but never reached the microphone.
Zien said a final count of prospective speakers showed 320
signing up in support of the bill and 96 against, a nearly
4:1 ratio.
While the legislature is now controlled by Republicans,
Democrat Gov. Jim Doyle has opposed concealed carry. Zien
told Gun Week that he hopes the governor signs the
legislation. Doyle, according to Zien, could cause trouble
for his own party at the polls next year should he veto the
measure, possibly giving Republicans a veto-proof majority
in both houses, due to voter backlash.
“I’d much rather have this law passed than to have a
veto-proof majority,†Zien said.
Emotions ran high at the hearing, according to published
reports. Speakers included a rape victim who said that if
she had had a handgun to defend herself, the rape would not
have occurred. Teresa Sweet of Hammond was quoted by The
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, insisting, “Had I a gun in my
purse or on my person, the moment I moved across that room
and saw him coming, trust me, he would have heard me say
‘no'.â€
She added that Wisconsin residents demand concealed carry.
“It isn’t a privilege to protect ourselves,†she stated,
“it’s a right.â€
In rebuttal, Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael
McCann testified against the measure, predicting that
passage could lead to more danger, not less.
“It will expand the culture of gun-carrying,†he argued.
As if to recycle arguments against concealed carry in other
states, McCann told the joint meeting of the Senate
Judiciary and Assembly Criminal Justice committees that
passing the legislation could lead to violent incidents of
road rage, the news paper reported.
Carrying things further, according to The Wisconsin State
Journal in Madison, McCann said he would rather see an armed
robber get away than have an armed citizen intervene.
The law enforcement community is divided on the issue.
Susan Riseling, president of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police
Association and chief of the University of
Wisconsin-Madison police department, said crime has declined
in Wisconsin since 1991 without concealed carry. She also
opposes a tenet of the measure that would recognize
concealed pistol licenses (CPL) issued by other states.
However, the Milwaukee Police Association (MPA)—perhaps the
largest police organization in the state—supports Zien’s
bill. In a written statement, MPA President Bradley
DeBraska said, “The good law-abiding citizens deserve every
opportunity to defend themselves against persons
committing heinous crimes.â€
Zien noted the irony of law enforcement opposition.
“Ironically the people who were against it were police
chiefs and sheriffs,†he observed, “but they were wearing
guns in open view or they weren’t bashful about telling
people they had guns there. Isn’t that kind of telltale?â€
According to The Green Bay News-Chronicle, the Badger State
Sheriff’s Association has not taken a position on the
legislation. Brown County Sheriff Dennis Kocken told that
newspaper he is neutral on the bill.
Under Zien’s measure, Wisconsin residents at least 21 years
of age could apply to a county sheriff for a CPL. They
would have to meet certain minimum requirements, including
passing a background check, and they would have to take a
training course. Licenses would cost $75 and be good for
five-year periods before renewal.
Licenses could be denied to anyone who has a history of drug
or alcohol dependence, is mentally ill, a convicted felon
or is found to be incompetent.
Under the proposed law, concealed carry would be prohibited
in airports, school administration buildings, police
stations, jails and prisons. Zien told Gun Week he was
working on some amendments that might allow churches, day
care centers and shelters for abused women to also bar
concealed handguns.
Wisconsin is one of just four states that have no provision
for concealed carry licenses—shall-issue or discretionary.
Page 2
Heavy Hearing Turnout Favors CCW Legislation in Wisconsin
by Dave Workman
Senior Editor
Promising quick action on a concealed carry bill now that
the Wisconsin legislature is back in session, Sen. Dave
Zien (R Eau Claire) is encouraged about his chances based on
a heavy turnout of concealed carry (CCW) proponents at a
public hearing Sept. 9 in Madison.
“We had one of the biggest public hearings we’ve ever heard
of,†Zien recalled. “We had four full rooms, plus the
hallways were filled. It was standing room only.â€
Zien said there were so many citizens at the hearing that
not everyone had a chance to speak. However, 78 people
spoke in favor of legislation--SB-214 sponsored by Zien,
and the identical AB-444, sponsored by Rep. Scott Gunderson
(R-Waterford)— while only 30 speakers opposed it. That 2:1
ratio was overshadowed by the number of people who actually
signed up to testify, but never reached the microphone.
Zien said a final count of prospective speakers showed 320
signing up in support of the bill and 96 against, a nearly
4:1 ratio.
While the legislature is now controlled by Republicans,
Democrat Gov. Jim Doyle has opposed concealed carry. Zien
told Gun Week that he hopes the governor signs the
legislation. Doyle, according to Zien, could cause trouble
for his own party at the polls next year should he veto the
measure, possibly giving Republicans a veto-proof majority
in both houses, due to voter backlash.
“I’d much rather have this law passed than to have a
veto-proof majority,†Zien said.
Emotions ran high at the hearing, according to published
reports. Speakers included a rape victim who said that if
she had had a handgun to defend herself, the rape would not
have occurred. Teresa Sweet of Hammond was quoted by The
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, insisting, “Had I a gun in my
purse or on my person, the moment I moved across that room
and saw him coming, trust me, he would have heard me say
‘no'.â€
She added that Wisconsin residents demand concealed carry.
“It isn’t a privilege to protect ourselves,†she stated,
“it’s a right.â€
In rebuttal, Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael
McCann testified against the measure, predicting that
passage could lead to more danger, not less.
“It will expand the culture of gun-carrying,†he argued.
As if to recycle arguments against concealed carry in other
states, McCann told the joint meeting of the Senate
Judiciary and Assembly Criminal Justice committees that
passing the legislation could lead to violent incidents of
road rage, the news paper reported.
Carrying things further, according to The Wisconsin State
Journal in Madison, McCann said he would rather see an armed
robber get away than have an armed citizen intervene.
The law enforcement community is divided on the issue.
Susan Riseling, president of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police
Association and chief of the University of
Wisconsin-Madison police department, said crime has declined
in Wisconsin since 1991 without concealed carry. She also
opposes a tenet of the measure that would recognize
concealed pistol licenses (CPL) issued by other states.
However, the Milwaukee Police Association (MPA)—perhaps the
largest police organization in the state—supports Zien’s
bill. In a written statement, MPA President Bradley
DeBraska said, “The good law-abiding citizens deserve every
opportunity to defend themselves against persons
committing heinous crimes.â€
Zien noted the irony of law enforcement opposition.
“Ironically the people who were against it were police
chiefs and sheriffs,†he observed, “but they were wearing
guns in open view or they weren’t bashful about telling
people they had guns there. Isn’t that kind of telltale?â€
According to The Green Bay News-Chronicle, the Badger State
Sheriff’s Association has not taken a position on the
legislation. Brown County Sheriff Dennis Kocken told that
newspaper he is neutral on the bill.
Under Zien’s measure, Wisconsin residents at least 21 years
of age could apply to a county sheriff for a CPL. They
would have to meet certain minimum requirements, including
passing a background check, and they would have to take a
training course. Licenses would cost $75 and be good for
five-year periods before renewal.
Licenses could be denied to anyone who has a history of drug
or alcohol dependence, is mentally ill, a convicted felon
or is found to be incompetent.
Under the proposed law, concealed carry would be prohibited
in airports, school administration buildings, police
stations, jails and prisons. Zien told Gun Week he was
working on some amendments that might allow churches, day
care centers and shelters for abused women to also bar
concealed handguns.
Wisconsin is one of just four states that have no provision
for concealed carry licenses—shall-issue or discretionary.
