http://www.madison.com/captimes/opinion/editorial/53517.php
Editorial: No need for hidden guns
An editorial
July 26, 2003
Americans have a right to own guns, just as they have a right to speak freely, to worship as they choose and to be safe from unreasonable search and seizure.
All of those rights are secured by the Constitution. Yet, at the same time, all of those rights are subject to reasonable regulation.
The protection against search and seizure, for instance, does not prevent officers of the law from arresting criminals and confiscating stolen goods. Freedom of religion protections do not extend to allowing the practice of bigamy. Freedom of speech safeguards do not permit one individual to libel another.
In every case, rights are constrained by common sense.
And so it must be with the right to bear arms.
The state should not get into the business of seizing weapons from lawful gun owners, and it should be cautious when it comes to regulating the types of weapons that individuals can own for hunting, personal protection or historical collections.
But when it comes to core issues of public safety, reasonable regulations on deadly weapons should be made using the common sense test.
We agree with Dane County Sheriff Gary Hamblin, Madison Police Chief Richard Williams and other local law enforcement leaders who say the state should not change the law to permit people to carry concealed weapons. A bill sponsored by state Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Union Grove, and state Sen. Dave Zien, R-Eau Claire, asks the Legislature to make that change, and it has substantial support.
Hamblin has brought a lot of balance to the debate, arguing, "I'm not an anti-gun person. I'm a deer hunter and a grouse hunter, and I appreciate the constitutional right to bear arms. But I'm not at all convinced of the need in Wisconsin for citizens to be carrying concealed weapons at this time."
That's the common sense argument.
A number of states around the country - 44, at current count - have laws that make it legal to carry a concealed weapon. The sky will not fall if Wisconsin follows their lead.
But we think that Hamblin has it right. No developments within Wisconsin have led to the call for changing a long-existing state law. The current push is a political gambit by legislators who have decided to fake up an issue in order to score political points.
Common sense says that Wisconsin does not need a concealed-carry law.
Published: 3:55 PM 7/25/03
Editorial: No need for hidden guns
An editorial
July 26, 2003
Americans have a right to own guns, just as they have a right to speak freely, to worship as they choose and to be safe from unreasonable search and seizure.
All of those rights are secured by the Constitution. Yet, at the same time, all of those rights are subject to reasonable regulation.
The protection against search and seizure, for instance, does not prevent officers of the law from arresting criminals and confiscating stolen goods. Freedom of religion protections do not extend to allowing the practice of bigamy. Freedom of speech safeguards do not permit one individual to libel another.
In every case, rights are constrained by common sense.
And so it must be with the right to bear arms.
The state should not get into the business of seizing weapons from lawful gun owners, and it should be cautious when it comes to regulating the types of weapons that individuals can own for hunting, personal protection or historical collections.
But when it comes to core issues of public safety, reasonable regulations on deadly weapons should be made using the common sense test.
We agree with Dane County Sheriff Gary Hamblin, Madison Police Chief Richard Williams and other local law enforcement leaders who say the state should not change the law to permit people to carry concealed weapons. A bill sponsored by state Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Union Grove, and state Sen. Dave Zien, R-Eau Claire, asks the Legislature to make that change, and it has substantial support.
Hamblin has brought a lot of balance to the debate, arguing, "I'm not an anti-gun person. I'm a deer hunter and a grouse hunter, and I appreciate the constitutional right to bear arms. But I'm not at all convinced of the need in Wisconsin for citizens to be carrying concealed weapons at this time."
That's the common sense argument.
A number of states around the country - 44, at current count - have laws that make it legal to carry a concealed weapon. The sky will not fall if Wisconsin follows their lead.
But we think that Hamblin has it right. No developments within Wisconsin have led to the call for changing a long-existing state law. The current push is a political gambit by legislators who have decided to fake up an issue in order to score political points.
Common sense says that Wisconsin does not need a concealed-carry law.
Published: 3:55 PM 7/25/03
