WI district attorney wants CCW law amended; sheriff sets him straight

[Monkeyleg]

Yesterday, Sheboygan, WI district attorney Joe DeCecco issued a call to amend the recently passed shall-issue carry bill. His concern? The same old bogeyman argument that police officers will be in danger when making traffic stops because they won't know who has a gun and who doesn't.

That's not really a story. What is a story is the reaction from Milwaukee County Sheriff Clarke, who said, amongst other things:

"The debate's over," he said. "Everybody just exhale. Forty-eight other states have this. They haven't experienced all this hysteria and fear-mongering, and life went on in those states. We'll be fine."

It's refreshing to hear that from a law enforcement official.

The rest of the story is here.

 

[Sam1911]

Interesting:

DeCecco said. "... I think cops should have the right to know everything they can possibly know."

Thats one way to look at things.

 

[Wingwalker]

Good for the Sheriff! I've been an officer for 12 years now in a state where we DO have access to the database for CCW holders. We can ask our dispatcher to run anyone we want for almost any reason to see if they have a CCW permit. I've never used it. Some dispatchers run people through it automatically when they send us on a complaint just to give us a heads up, but I really don't see the use in it. I assume that EVERYONE I come in contact with has a concealed weapon. Most criminals aren't going to go through the process to get a permit. Most of them couldn't pass the background check anyway.

 

[orionengnr]

"It is outrageous when, hiding behind a constitutional right, special interest groups' paranoia and extreme views put our officers at risk..."

Yeah, pesky thing, that dang ol' Constitution...
I would like to see some stats on how many CHL holders, nationwide, in the history of concealed carry, have ever shot an LEO. I'm betting I could count them all on...ah, probably...one finger of one hand...or less.

Dick, (OP), glad to see that WI has finally become the 49th state. (I hope that IL one day follows, as I'd love to go back there to retire in 10 or so years). I know that your tireless efforts had a lot to do with that, and I am sorry to see that you have relocated and cannot enjoy the fruits of that success. But take comfort in the fact that Wisconsinites now enjoy the rights that they have been so long denied. Good job, and a good begining to a happy ending.

My sincere respects to Sheriff Clarke. Generally speaking, I have no trust or repect for administrators, who generally reflect the political views of the mayors who appoint them. This guy is the exception to my rule, and has integrity and class. We need more like him.

Edited to add: After reading some of his blog, I just sent an email to his website. This guy is the real deal, and the citizens of any city would be lucky to have a man of his caliber and integrity working for them.

 

[NavyLCDR]

"hiding behind a Constitutional right"?!?

That Attorney General should be fired immediately. He doesn't know the difference between hiding behind and exercising a right. (Not that carrying a gun in a way that requires a permit is exercising a right anyway.... it is a government granted privilege) but, for this argument, it's close enough. Maybe replace him with that Sheriff.

 

[kis2]

I need to find a way to send a thank you email to the sheriff...

 

[Librarian]

Good for Sheriff Clarke.

I assume that EVERYONE I come in contact with has a concealed weapon.

That's the only possible safe action.

A responding officer has no idea who may be in a car or at an address - so information on the owner of the vehicle or the resident at that address is insufficient to reduce any level of caution.

ETA this is the contact info from the Sheriff's Office web page : [email protected]

 

[Romeo 33 Delta]

Sheriff Clarke ... a real credit to our State's law enforcement community!

DeCecco ... his comments speak for themselves.

 

[orionengnr]

I need to find a way to send a thank you email to the sheriff...

Start here, like I did:

http://county.milwaukee.gov/OfficeoftheSheriff7719.htm

My message:
Sheriff Clarke--
I just read a post about your rebuttal to DA Joe DeCecco on WI's CCW law.

Sir, my hat is off to you. I moved to Texas from IL seven and a half years ago, and was amazed at the difference in the attitude towards Constitutional rights. I would not be surprised in the least to hear that you are a member of Oath Keepers. (If not, I ask that you research it.)

When I lived in IL, I needed a FOID card to look at a gun, or own one, or buy ammo, or shoot at a range. CCW was unheard-of, unless you were a Daley crony.

When I moved to Texas, I got my CHL "because I could" and have been carrying ever since. I am currently 54 years old and have no criminal record. I plan on carrying every day of what remains of my life and have no intention of shooting anyone.

God bless you for being one of few administrators who understands that one does not reduce crime by restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens. The county of Milwaukee is blessed to have you, and the state of Wisconsin benefis from your wisdom...especially in the case of DA DeCecco.

I hope to retire to IL in ten years or so...if they follow Wisconsin's long-overdue lead and become the 50th state to allow CCW. If not, perhaps I will move to Wisconson instead.

I note that you have been in office since 1992, and while (in general) I |believe that a career in politics leads inevitably to a corrupt official, I am not above admitting that there are evceptions to every rule, and what |I read on your blog leads me to believe that you are one of those exceptions. I wish you a long term in office, and I wish there were more like you, especially in cities like Milwaukee. Then again, if you ever get tired of snow, we could use a man like you in Dallas.

I am a modest man of modest means, but I stand up for what I believe. When you come up for re-election, I will be inclined to support you in any way I can.
Best regards, and keep up the great work.
Rich

 

[Gato Montés]

Ah, the good ole' Journal Sentinel, just can't let it go can they?

Seriously, why was this in today's newspaper. As Clarke said in the article, "the debate is over." CCW will finally become law of the land. It passed; there's no more to discuss.

Good for Clarke, nice to see someone in Milwaukee's law enforcement who isn't a complete ass (coughFlynncough).

 

[kis2]

friendly thank you sent. I think it's always important to encourage people when they put themselves out there like that, because undoubtedly they can negative responses too.

thanks for the link orionengnr.

 

[22-rimfire]

(from the Journal Sentinel article link above): "(They) walk into a situation where people are yelling and screaming and they can't run a check to see, there's two people in this house who have a permit. They may walk in and say, 'Mr. Jones, you have a permit. Where's that gun right now?' I think that's reasonable," DeCecco said. "It doesn't compromise the right to carry concealed. I think cops should have the right to know everything they can possibly know."

Anyone involved in the domestic issue could be legally armed anyway without the permit. The information might be nice, but if I were an officer, I would assume somebody is armed already. In most cases, the "good guys" don't shoot anyone....

Good letter/email. I agree with Kis2, it is good to support people who say reasonable things publically based on currently available data.

 

[Davey Wavey]

"It is outrageous when, hiding behind a constitutional right, special interest groups' paranoia and extreme views put our officers at risk when they are simply trying to do their sworn duty and remain as safe as possible," said Sheboygan County District Attorney Joe DeCecco

Look on the bright side folks! He at least admits it's a constitutional right.

 

[MikeNice]

Good for the Sheriff! I've been an officer for 12 years now in a state where we DO have access to the database for CCW holders. We can ask our dispatcher to run anyone we want for almost any reason to see if they have a CCW permit. I've never used it. Some dispatchers run people through it automatically when they send us on a complaint just to give us a heads up, but I really don't see the use in it. I assume that EVERYONE I come in contact with has a concealed weapon. Most criminals aren't going to go through the process to get a permit. Most of them couldn't pass the background check anyway.

I work with cops day in and day out. I can honestly say this is probably the best opinion I've heard from an officer. It is also the mind set that will probably keep you healthy a lot longer than many other officers. I wish we had a hat tipping smilely face.

Be safe.

 

[ZombieKiller57]

It's nice to finally see someone stand their ground. Obviously the DA doesn't know what he is talking about anyway. Rule 1: A LEO should always expect the person he is confronting to be armed unless proven otherwise. That does not mean you treat them like a criminal but that should be your alert level.

 

[ball3006]

In Texas, when a cop runs your car license plate, it shows if you have a CHL. Duh, how hard is that? chris3

 

[Scimmia]

In Texas, when a cop runs your car license plate, it shows if you have a CHL. Duh, how hard is that? chris3

You do realize that's not common, right? In my state, the records are at the county level only and have no link to any state database, including driver's licenses.

 

[Carter]

You do realize that's not common, right? In my state, the records are at the county level only and have no link to any state database, including driver's licenses.

Its common in my state (NC). Its linked to your license plate and DL.

But seriously, how can he expect anyone to take him seriously when his claims don't make any sense when compared to the rest of the country?

 

[ny32182]

I have a carry permit, a pistol, and sometimes drive cars that aren't mine. Oops.

 

[jbrown50]

It's nice to finally see someone stand their ground. Obviously the DA doesn't know what he is talking about anyway. Rule 1: A LEO should always expect the person he is confronting to be armed unless proven otherwise. That does not mean you treat them like a criminal but that should be your alert level.

Dececco knows exactly what he's doing. He knows that laws don't prevent criminals from breaking laws. He works with law enforcement every day and knows that LEOs are supposed to assume that anyone they engage contact with is armed, no matter whether they have a permit or not.

Dececco made the statement to simply score points with his political buddies, to make sure they understand which side he's on.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Thank you for that article, Monkeyleg. Miss the place, do you?

 

[Canazes9]

In Texas, when a cop runs your car license plate, it shows if you have a CHL. Duh, how hard is that? chris3

That's incorrect. When officer runs your drivers license it shows you have CHL, not the license plate.

David

 

[PavePusher]

jbrown: "Dececco made the statement to simply score points with his political buddies, to make sure they understand which side he's on."

That, sir, is the problem....

 

[EddieNFL]

"It is outrageous when, hiding behind a constitutional right, special interest groups' paranoia and extreme views put our officers at risk when they are simply trying to do their sworn duty and remain as safe as possible," said Sheboygan County District Attorney Joe DeCecco

Was he hiding behind the first amendment when he said that?

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

Was he hiding behind the first amendment when he said that?

lol


.