Posted on 01/24/2002 6:32:50 AM PST by gnarledmaw
January 23, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact: Dave Zien, (608) 266-7511
Baumgart, Doyle Gun Ban Gets Worse
15 of 19 Sponsors Remove Names from Bill
An analysis released today by the non-partisan Legislative Council confirms an analysis released last week by Senator Dave Zien (R-Wheaton) and goes even further. Zien found a hidden provision in the Baumgart/Doyle "anti-terrorism" bill that would ban ammunition for over 99% of all firearms used by Wisconsin hunters. The Legislative Council analysis found the bill goes beyond banning ammunition to ban all firearms.
The Attorney General, whose Department of Justice attorneys prepared the provisions of the bill, admitted to the ban on ammunition when it was found. He and Baumgart have said they would eliminate the ammunition ban. Now that the firearms ban has been discovered, the question is whether they will also eliminate this hidden ban.
"At some point you have to stop trusting a guy who only admits to things he has been caught at," said Zien. "How many other restrictions on constitutional rights are they aware of in this bill?"
The Legislative Council attorney found the definitions of "explosives" and "destructive devices" in the bill could ban all firearms for private citizens, in addition to the ammunition. Even if Doyle and Baumgart keep their commitment to exempt "ammunition" from the ban, "firearms" would still be banned by the same provision.
According to the Legislative Council memo to Zien: This language could include gunpowder or a firearm because either might be considered an item "intended to produce an explosion capable of causing substantial bodily harm, death or property damage." Similarly, the term "destructive device" may include a device (a firearm) that contains an explosive (gunpowder) that is designed or configured to cause substantial bodily harm, death, or property damage...
Zien went on to commend the legislators who withdrew their support for the bill when the gun and ammunition bans came to light. "No one can be blamed for trusting another elected official to be honest about the intent of their bill. With over 1,500 bills introduced each session, we have to trust one another," said Zien. "It takes true courage to stand up and speak out when the truth is known."
"The gun owners and sportsmen and women of Wisconsin owe our thanks to the Bold 15 who stood up for our rights and committed to help stop this legislation," said Zien. "I have never seen a bill lose ¾ of it's cosponsors for any reason, until today."
Legislators standing up for gun owners by withdrawing their support and committing to kill Doyle's secret bans are: Senators Roessler and Darling and Representatives Petrowski, Freese, Hines, Ladwig, Dan Meyer, Hahn, Jeskewitz, Lippert, Musser, Olsen, Owens, Vrakas and Ott. These withdrawals leave the author, Senator Baumgart, as the only Senate sponsor of Senate Bill 363. Remaining Assembly sponsors have committed to attempting to fix the bill to protect lawful gun ownership and use. Following are key provisions of the ban language as proposed by Baumgart/Doyle in Senate Bill 363 [Comments in brackets added]:
947.07 (1) (c) "Destructive device" means an overpressure device, or a device that contains an explosive or an incendiary and is designed or configured to cause substantial bodily harm, death, or property damage, including any of the following devices:
947.07 (1) (d) "Detonator" means a device containing an exploding charge used to initiate detonation in an explosive or a destructive device, or any device capable of initiating or setting off an explosive charge including, but not limited to, an impact device, a timing mechanism, a primer, primer or detonating cord, a detonating cap, detonating waves, electric blasting caps, blasting caps for use with safety fuses, a shock tube initiator, or detonating cord delay connectors. [A "primer" is the ignition device that sets off every bullet or shotgun shell.]
947.07 (1) (f) "Explosive" means any chemical compound, other substance, or mechanical system that is intended to produce an explosion capable of causing substantial bodily harm, death, or property damage, including such a compound, substance, or system that contains oxidizing and combustible units in proportions or quantities that ignition, fire, friction, concussion, percussion, or detonation may produce an explosion; including, but not limited to, items on the list of explosive materials published pursuant to 18 USC 841 (d) and 27 CFR 55.23.
947.07 (2) (a) Whoever manufactures, buys, sells, offers to sell, transfers, distributes or possesses an explosive or a destructive device is guilty of a class C felony. [Class C Felony = Up to 15 year sentence.]
947.07 (3) (a) Whoever uses an explosive or a destructive device is guilty of a Class B felony. [Class B Felony = Up to 60 year sentence]
947.07 (7) (c) Ammunition for firearms or components for ammunition for firearms that are designed to shoot no more than one shot without manual reloading. [This is the only firearms related exception to the above restrictions. Attorneys agree, the exception would not apply to any gun that can be loaded with more than one bullet or shell.]
947.07 (8) Evidence. A photograph, electronic image, videotape, or other identifying evidence of an explosive, destructive device, detonator, or weapon of mass destruction that is properly authenticated as provided under ch. 909 is admissible as evidence in lieu of the actual explosive, destructive device, detonator, or weapon of mass destruction in any action or proceeding concerning an explosive, destructive device, detonator, or weapon of mass destruction.
Gun Ban SB 363 Sponsors Off.pdf
It would be more humane to nuke Somalia...
3/4 of the cosponsers took a hike? Heck, I want to thank those 15 as well . .
T L I
bump
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.