cuchulainn
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from the Madison Capital Times
http://www.madison.com/captimes/news/stories/59779.php
http://www.madison.com/captimes/news/stories/59779.php
Citizens don't want it but gun bill OK'd
By Matt Pommer
October 25, 2003
Two new polls show a majority of Wisconsin residents oppose a plan to allow citizens to carry concealed weapons.
The polls were released Friday as the state Senate passed the measure, 24-8, sending it to the Assembly, where approval is expected in November.
For 130 years, Wisconsin has banned the carrying of concealed weapons. It now is one of only five states with such a ban.
A poll of 285 citizens, conducted for the Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association, showed 56.3 percent were opposed to the legislation. Three percent were undecided and 40.8 favored the idea.
The sheriffs' poll showed the only place a majority favored concealed weapons was in the home. Some 63.8 percent backed that idea, while 35.5 percent were opposed.
"Carrying a concealed weapon in one's home or business has already been approved by a state Supreme Court decision in July," said Jeff Wiswell, public affairs counsel for the association.
The second poll, a random sample of 600 citizens done for the Council on Children and Families, showed 62 percent opposed to allowing the carrying of concealed weapons, while 31 percent approved of the idea. The poll showed only 28 percent are dissatisfied with existing gun laws.
"People in Wisconsin, including gun owners, understand the simple fact that having more guns toted around would not make them safer," said CCF Executive Director Anne Arnesen.
While the poll numbers show a majority opposed, Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer, R-West Bend, told reporters that supporters of the legislation passionately believe in allowing the carrying of concealed weapons.
The 24 votes to pass the bill are important because they represent two more than what would be needed to override a veto in the Senate. Gov. Jim Doyle has said he will support police views on the issue.
Panzer said it would be politically "dangerous" for senators to back Doyle's veto if they had voted for passage of the bill.
The Wisconsin Pro-Gun Movement and the National Rifle Association heavily lobbied the measure. Only a handful of people, including the gun lobbyists, were on hand for the final vote.
There is a dramatic gender split in both polls. In the sheriffs' poll, 52 percent of men support the idea, while 65 percent of women are opposed. In the CCF poll, less than 17 percent of the women strongly back the idea while 45 percent of the men back it. More than half of those polled themselves owned a gun.
For concealed carry in homes, it is supported by 74.2 percent of men and 54 percent of women. There is a 6 percentage point margin of error in the sheriffs' poll and a 4 percentage point margin of error in the CCF sample.
Both men and women oppose the idea of allowing concealed carrying of weapons in vehicles. That is opposed by 74.5 percent of women and 51.6 percent of men. The Senate-passed bill provides strong language allowing concealed weapons in vehicles. For example, employers could not prohibit their workers from having concealed weapons in vehicles in their parking lots.
One of the major arguments of proponents was that allowing trained citizens to carry weapons would reduce crime. More than 61 percent of those polled by the sheriffs did not agree with that suggestion.
"Only 36.2 percent of the respondents believe such a law will reduce crime," said Sauk County Sheriff Randy Stammen.
James Cardinal, executive director of the sheriffs' association, said allowing 37,000 citizens to carry concealed weapons will increase risks for law enforcement officers. The 37,000 number is the Justice Department's estimate of those who in the first year will seek licenses to carry concealed weapons.
Cardinal also cited this week's shooting death of Green Lake sheriff's Deputy Bruce Williams as an example of the dangers that police face.
The Badger Sheriffs Association has reported only three sheriffs are on record as supporting the legislation. The Wisconsin Chiefs of Police group has come out in opposition.
Wiswell said the poll showed opposition running 2 to 1 in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th congressional districts of Wisconsin. There is significant opposition in the Appleton-Green Bay, Duluth and Minneapolis areas, he said.
In the final day of debate, only five small amendments were attached to the bill. The major details of the legislation had been hammered out Tuesday in a 14-hour session of the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee.
Among places where concealed weapons would be prohibited are churches, hospitals, taverns, abortion clinics, police stations and courthouses. The Senate rejected an amendment by Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, to prohibit them from the State Capitol.
Risser noted that one legislator was killed in a Capitol shooting in 1870. Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, asked Risser if he knew the details.
"I wasn't here then," quipped Risser, who has been in the Legislature since 1957.
Published: 6:43 AM 10/25/03
Copyright 2003 The Capital Times
