Public Safety Issue: Concealed Carry Bill SB 169
Safety in the Neighborhood.
MHNA, in conjunction with other neighborhood associations on the East Side, is registering opposition to this proposed change in state law. The proposed law would remove the requirement to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon and would remove all required gun safety training.
We urge members to send comments to legislators today.
– MHNA Board
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Dear Friends
This email is a call for citizen comments to be delivered no later than next Tuesday, May 30, to members of the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. There is a meeting of the Committee on Wednesday, May 31, at the State Capitol Room 411 South.
The issue is Senate Bill 169. It includes extreme and dangerous changes to the current concealed carry law. In short, is would allow most everyone to carry a hidden, loaded gun with NO permit, NO background check, NO required training. The “permitless gun carry” would be allowed even in schools, police, stations and mental health facilities.
Wisconsin Opinions about Concealed Carry:
*A January, 2017 Wisconsin survey of 1050 adults conducted by Survey USA for everytown research.org found that:
91% of adults 18+ strongly support or support current Wisconsin law requiring applicants for concealed carry permits to have a clean criminal record, pass a handgun safety training course, and pay a processing fee to get a permit to carry in public places. SB169 eliminates this licensing requirement.
Another question asked about removing the requirement to get a permit to carry concealed handguns in public places. Only 8% strongly support and 12 % support unrestricted carry.
*In 2014 and in 2017 the Wisconsin Association of School Boards passed resolutions opposing
*Wisconsin first licensed concealed carry in 2011 with the claim it would reduce violent crime. What happened? Gun homicides were 42% higher from 2012 to 2015 than from 2008 to 2011 [before concealed carry]. And the annual average rate of violent cries was 14% higher from 2012 to 2015 than the previous three years. [Center for American Progress analysis of Federal Bureau of Investigation, “Crime in the United States,” Uniform Crime Reporting, available at https://ucr.fbi.gov/ucr-
Overall, SB169 makes concealed carry easier, omits training, eliminates oversight, and allows immature, undisciplined people as young as 18 to “carry” with no restriction.
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Analysis of SB169 by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau [relevant portions with emphasis added]:
Current law generally prohibits an individual from carrying a concealed weapon unless the individual has a license to carry a concealed weapon that is issued by the Department of Justice or unless the individual has a law enforcement identification card indicating that he or she is a qualified current or former law enforcement officer. This bill eliminates the general prohibition against going armed with a concealed weapon without regard to licensure status.
This bill also eliminates current law prohibitions against carrying firearms in specified places, but retains the current law that allows certain persons to post buildings and grounds so that individuals who carry a firearm in violation of the posting commit trespass. For instance, this bill eliminates the prohibition on carrying a firearm on school grounds and, for persons without a license to carry a
concealed weapon, in a school zone. Instead, this bill allows schools to post their buildings and grounds under the trespassing laws. …….
…….Likewise, the bill eliminates the general prohibition against carrying a firearm in other buildings, such as a police station, a house of correction, or a secure mental health facility, but allows the appropriate governmental entity to post the buildings against carrying a firearm.
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What Can You Do?
Contact the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, MAY 31! Call, email, write or appear at the hearing:
AND, urge friends and relatives around the state to oppose this bill.
Members
Senator Wanggard {Chair]
Madison Office:
Room 319 South State Capitol
Madison, WI 53707-7882 Telephone:
(608) 266-1832
(866) 615-7510
Sen.Wanggaard@legis.wisconsin.
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Senator Testin (Vice-Chair)
Madison Office:
Room 131 South
State Capitol
Madison, WI 53707-7882
Telephone:
(608) 266-3123
Fax:
(608) 282-3564
Sen.Testin@legis.wi.gov
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Madison Office:
Room 18 South
State Capitol
Madison, WI 53707-7882
Telephone:
(608) 266-7513
Email:
Sen.Stroebel@legis.wisconsin.
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Senator Risser
Madison Office:
Room 130 South
State Capitol
Madison, WI 53707-7882
Telephone:
(608) 266-1627
Fax:
(608) 266-1629 Email:
Sen.Risser@legis.wisconsin.gov
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Senator L. Taylor
Madison Office:
Room 5 South
State Capitol, Madison, WI 53707-7882
Telephone:
(608) 266-5810
Fax:
(608) 282-3544 District Phone:
(414) 342-7176 Email:
Sen.Taylor@legis.wisconsin.gov
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Also Contact your Senator:
Chris Larson [Senator for the district encompassing Milwaukee’s East Side] Telephone:
(608) 266-7505
(800) 361-5487Email:
Sen.Larson@legis.wisconsin.gov