Posted on 11/30/2005 11:16:40 AM PST by neverdem
Associated Press
Change satisfies law enforcement agencies' concern about guns during vehicle stops
MADISON, Wis. Police could check whether the owner of a car they stop is carrying a concealed weapon under a compromise that sponsors of a bill to let Wisconsin residents carry hidden weapons have reached with law enforcement groups.
Sponsors say the amendment eliminates police lobbying organizations' major hang-ups with the Republican-authored bill. The bill's authors and representatives of several law enforcement groups planned a press conference this morning to announce more details.
"This was the biggest issue for law enforcement," said Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, one of the bill's authors. "We've been working with law enforcement throughout the process to really bring them on board."
Under the measure, whenever an officer runs the registration of a vehicle he stops, a screen would pop up alerting him if the owner has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, said Casey Perry, executive director of the Wisconsin Troopers Association.
"This way we would know before we approach the vehicle," Perry said. "We think it's a safety issue for the people that we stop, as well as the officers. It is major because it's a deal breaker for us."
The bill's creators have insisted the list of permit holders remain secret to ensure criminals don't prey on people who aren't carrying. Police groups say that would put officers in danger.
Perry said under the amendment, any officer caught running registrations excessively to find out who has permits verified through state Department of Justice records that track the number of times an officer runs a registration would be charged with a misdemeanor.
Gunderson said police associations added the language for the misdemeanor charge into the bill themselves.
"This is a compromise. I just feel it's important that if we're going to make this thing work, law enforcement has to be on board," Gunderson said.
The bill, the subject of a fierce debate at the Capitol, would allow Wisconsin residents who pass firearms training and obtain permits to carry concealed handguns, knives and billy clubs in most public places. The few exceptions include schools, taverns and police stations.
The GOP, pushed by National Rifle Association lobbyists, passed similar legislation in 2003, saying people should be allowed to shoot criminals who attack them.
Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed it, saying the measure would jeopardize police officers' lives and allow guns in malls and libraries. The Republican-controlled Legislature fell short of overriding Doyle in early 2004.
Identical versions of the current bill are moving through both the Republican-controlled Senate and Assembly. The Joint Finance Committee was scheduled to take them up today.
Doyle spokeswoman Melanie Fonder said the permit-alert system won't persuade the governor to sign the bill.
"It doesn't change the fact the governor doesn't think people should be carrying weapons around," Fonder said.
it's on our DL's here in MN and never happened to me(although I do get my share of valid speeding stops)
Camels nose?
First step in registering all gun owners.
Not good!
HOw do you expect to go from red to yellow to blue to green?
Your's is a misstatement too. :)
Should Read: Police could check whether the owner has a permit to carry a cocealed weapon, which would imply about a 10%(guessing) chance of currently having a weapon, and a 99.99999% chance of not being a threat in either case.
They could not stand the foregoing of sticking a finger in the eye of this law...as usual what they demand will not do one single thing to protect the street cop..the rank and file...not one stinking thing...they simply have to have a say in this so they can say they screwed with tax paying loyal honest citizens demands...and got to ride roughshod (at least a little) over our Constitutional and God given rights once again..
However anything that forces Doyle & Lautenschlagger to do the will of those who pay his salary rather than the Marxists who pull their strings is OK by me too.
God bless and protect those cops who love our country and it's Constitution and who will stand up for those honest citizens right to self and family protection
Lord knows that in the face of the criminal evil scum coming at us from south of the border (even in my little rural WI town) we are going to need all the decent cops and folks we can muster..
The Washington and Madison of our day (DC & WI) are certainly not interested in watching out for us in fact it almost seems to the contrary.
IMO
They could not stand the foregoing of sticking a finger in the eye of this law...as usual what they demand will not do one single thing to protect the street cop..the rank and file...not one stinking thing...they simply have to have a say in this so they can say they screwed with tax paying loyal honest citizens demands...and got to ride roughshod (at least a little) over our Constitutional and God given rights once again..
However anything that forces Doyle & Lautenschlagger to do the will of those who pay his salary rather than the Marxists who pull their strings is OK by me too.
God bless and protect those cops who love our country and it's Constitution and who will stand up for those honest citizens right to self and family protection
Lord knows that in the face of the criminal evil scum coming at us from south of the border (even in my little rural WI town) we are going to need all the decent cops and folks we can muster..
The Washington and Madison of our day (DC & WI) are certainly not interested in watching out for us in fact it almost seems to the contrary.
IMO
I stand corrected. Sadly, it appears I am qualified for journalism :)
Cross-linking.
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