Image courtesy FReeper jdege's gun-nuttery.com.
State Rep. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, who spoke out strongly against the concealed carry bill
Isaiah 3:12 ping.
Posted on 08/11/2005 8:53:24 AM PDT by neverdem
TOWN OF BARRE, Wis. —Onalaska's police chief tried Wednesday to head off another anticipated attempt to allow Wisconsin residents to carry concealed weapons.
A survey of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association showed two-thirds opposed any form of concealed carry in the state, said Randy Williams, who heads the association.
Gun rights supporters are expected to bring a personal protection bill back before the legislature, after an earlier measure fell only one vote short of overriding Gov. Jim Doyle's veto in January 2004.
State Sen. Dave Zien, R-Eau Claire, said he hopes to have a new concealed carry bill drafted in the next few weeks.
This bill, Zien said, will not include many of the restrictions attached to the one that did not survive Doyle's veto.
Ryan Kulik, program director with the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, which organized Wednesday's gathering at the Barre Town Hall, called the concealed carry legislation "a bad idea" that will not make the state more safe.
Data indicates states that added concealed carry policies did not seen crime go down, Kulik said. A new Gallup poll also showed 65 percent of the people surveyed nationwide would feel less safe if concealed firearms were allowed.
But Joe Waldron, head of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, disagreed with the findings, and faulted the chiefs' argument.
"What we're hearing now is the same tired rhetoric that has been used to poison the concealed carry debate for years," Waldron said. "Hysterical predictions about gunfights in taverns and at traffic stops have been debunked repeatedly, and so has the paranoia about the mythical increased threat armed citizens pose to law enforcement."
Waldron said the chiefs have to explain why Wisconsin residents are less trustworthy with licensed, concealed handguns than those in the 46 states that allow concealed weapons.
As the debate heats up, Williams said, police chiefs are more united against the proposal than ever before.
A new survey of WPCA members shows only 1 percent of the chiefs favor any type of concealed carry legislation, and 90 percent said they oppose any legislation that is similar or less restrictive than last year's bill.
State Rep. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, who spoke out strongly against the concealed carry bill last year, said allowing concealed weapons would be a "slippery slope" and send the state down "a dangerous path."
Shilling said more guns would not improve safety, especially for law enforcement officers who won't know if someone might have a gun.
Dan Springer can be reached at (608) 791-8269 or dspringer@lacrossetribune.com.
Want a safe job? DON'T BE A POLICE OFFICER!
I can see where the probability of reduced crime rates would create a slippery slope....../sarcasm
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Isaiah 3:12 ping.
The threat to law enforcement by CCW holders is a myth. Why? Because we are law abiding.
I was pulled over last week, because my window tint appears to be too dark. (Its not in violation of the law, but it IS close, and I have been pulled over several times for it). As soon as the blue lights went on, I pulled over immediately and shut off the engine. Before the officer was out of his car, I had rolled down my dark window and placed my hands on the window ledge. As the officer approached, I called out "Good evening, Officer. I have a concealed firearm."
The officer stopped just behind the door pillar (like they are supposed to), and asked "Where is your firearm?" I told him that it was under my shirt in the small of my back, where I always carry. He asked me to hand him my pistol, and didn't seem to be overly concerned. I did as he asked, and he placed it on the roof of my truck.
He asked politely for my driver's license, insurance, and CCW. He tested my tinting with that little device they have, handed me back my documents and pistol, and bid me "Good evening, sir" after thanking me for the way I dealt with the stop and my firearm.
Police have absolutely nothing to fear from law-abiding citizens with CCW's.
We've had no blodbath in Oregon either and we've had CCW for years!
I never leave home without mine!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Yeah -- it makes it hard for the police chiefs to demand higher budgets.
And, Vermont where you need no permit at all to carry concealed.
LEOs don't know if you're carrying a gun NOW!
Any law abiding concealed carry citizen will inform a LEO, when first approached, that they are carrying concealed.
Me either. I don't even go to Church unarmed.
I had never been asked to surrender my weapon before, either.
However, this officer was quite young, and I'd never met him before (I know the majority of the police in my county). I was only too happy to comply with his request.
A .45??? I have one, but am too small a fellow to conceal it well. My Bersa .380 with glasers will just have to do in a pinch. :)
Molon Labe!
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