From the WCCA: www.wisconsinconcealedcarry.com
p.s. I've tried to call the listed critical legislators today, and all their voicemail boxes were full. Please keep trying. Hopefully the VM boxes are all full of messages from those supporting the bill...
Madison - 01.26.04
The state Assembly has scheduled the vote on the override of Governor Doyle's veto of the Personal Protection act concealed carry bill for tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27th.
Last week we had roughly two hundred supporters pack the senate galleries in a show of force. While senate minority leader Jon Erpenbach played games and stalled the vote until the following day, the presence of so many supporters definitely had an effect on the outcome of the vote.
For the assembly override, we're going to need even more people to show their support. We need to pack the galleries and spill out into the hallways. We need to have such an overwhelming presence that the representatives will think twice about switching their votes.
Make no mistake: we're going to win or lose by possibly just one vote. Your presence, and the presence of any friends that you can bring along, will help ensure our victory.
Governor Doyle is going to order state troopers and sheriffs to go to the capitol--on the clock and on your taxpayer dime--to make a showing opposing the bill. Meanwhile, many of us will have to take a vacation day or unpaid day of leave in order to make our presence known. But what price victory? With victory just a vote away, isn't it worth it to you to spend a day at the Capitol to make Wisconsin the 47th state to legalize concealed carry?
Governor Doyle is proud of a ban on concealed carry that dates back to 1873. He's proud of a ban that traces its roots to the racist lobbying efforts of the Ku Klux Klan following the freeing of slaves, efforts that were aimed at keeping minorities unarmed and defenseless.
Governor Doyle is proud of the "low" rate of violent crime in Wisconsin. He's proud that we "only" have 12,000 rapes, robberies, assaults and other violent crimes here in Wisconsin every year, many of which could be prevented if victims had the means to defend themselves.
Governor Doyle is wrong. And your presence at the Capitol will convince representatives that he's wrong.
Please be at the Capitol between 10am and noon tomorrow for this historic vote. Meanwhile, continue to call the two Democrat representatives whom we need to keep on our side. Be as polite as you possibly can. Thank them for their original vote. Tell them that you strongly want the veto overridden. If you're from their districts, assure them that you will be voting for them in the fall elections, and will get every member of your family, gun club and circle of friends to vote for them as well. If you're not from their districts, tell them that you will support their re-elections in every way possible. Those representatives are:
Representative Gary Sherman (608) 266-7690 or (888) 534-0074.
Representative Amy Sue Vruwink (608)266-8366 or (888) 534-0070.
Some who receive these email alerts are nervous about calling legislators. They feel threatened by the legislators and their staffers. Know this: those legislators and their staffers are afraid of you. With more than half of the adult population in Wisconsin owning guns, you are part of the most powerful special interest group in the state.
Our sheer numbers as gun owners has resulted in a long list of legislative victories that other states envy: the defeat of the Milwaukee and Kenosha handgun bans; passage of statewide pre-emption legislation that repealed Madison's handgun ban; passage of the Range Protection Act; passage of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms amendment; defeat of Jim Doyle's attempt to ban primers and ammunition; passage of the Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap amendment; and more.
When gun owners speak with one voice, we win. And we can win on Tuesday.
Please join us at the Capitol for the last fight in a battle that began ten years ago.
Once again, failure is not an option!
Directions: take I-90 or I-94 to Madison. At the I-90/I-94 junction, you'll see a sign Highway 30 west into Madison. Take highway 30 west, and exit at the large sign for the Capitol. You'll then be on Washington Avenue, which runs right up to the Capitol. There are parking lots and ramps at several locations near the Capitol. Here's a map showing the parking areas: www.ci.madison.wi.us/parking/parking.html
p.s. I've tried to call the listed critical legislators today, and all their voicemail boxes were full. Please keep trying. Hopefully the VM boxes are all full of messages from those supporting the bill...
