On Friday, contrary to the wishes of the public, the state Senate passed the \Personal Protection Act."" Pushed by the Republicans and lobbyists from the Wisconsin Pro-Gun Movement and the National Rifle Association, the bill allows concealed weapons to be carried in Wisconsin for the first time in more than 130 years.
Two polls, one by the Sheriff's and Deputy Sheriff's Association and another by the Council on Children and Families, indicate that the citizens of Wisconsin do not want this bill made into law, with the CCF's larger population sample showing an enormous 62 percent opposed to conceal and carry.
According to the provisions of the bill, not even the state Capitol will be free of concealed weapons because Republicans refused the amendment sponsored by state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, exempting it from conceal and carry. This is shocking. There are exemptions, such as places of worship, hospitals, domestic abuse shelters, schools, campus buildings-though, one should note, not campus itself. But business owners would need to post signs and verbally inform customers if they did not want weapons on their property.
The rhetoric in favor of concealed carry is simplistic and well-worn, with talk of citizens protecting themselves from crime as well as dropping crime rates. This is not idealism but delusion, for an ordinary citizen carrying a concealed handgun is not suddenly a lower level of the police force and capable of crime-fighting. Most citizens do not believe passage of this bill will make them safer.
If the bill should passe the Assembly as well, Doyle has declared his intention to follow the wishes of police on this issue. They overwhelmingly do not want, nor approve of, this measure. They are the men and women who will be most affected by conceal and carry and their legislators should acknowledge the opinions as well.
The police are more familiar than most others with the true risks of carrying weapons, and they are the ones who will be left to clean up when someone is killed. Because, realistically, this will happen. Whether it's a case of road rage that's gotten out of hand or a petty drunken dispute that takes a wrong turn, one of those people carrying a gun is going to shoot someone else, and it probably won't be a criminal. Yes, receiving a permit requires a clean criminal record, completion of a gun safety course, certification of mental health, freedom from drug or alcohol abuse and a background check. Safety precautions, however, do not guarantee anything-""acts of passion"" can flare up in anyone, mental health can shift at any time and someone once free of addiction may not remain that way.
After Doyle employs his veto, the Republicans will lead a veto-override fight and the votes remain unchanged, it will be tight but leave them victorious. Recent history has shown that Doyle can usually count on the Senate to prevent a veto override, with the GOP. having already attempted five of them. In fact, it's been 20 years since a Wisconsin governor's veto has been overturned However, passing this bill by 24-8, including the votes of six Democrats, the Republicans only need four of those six to reach the two-thirds required for override. The exact vote spread in the Assembly has yet to be seen, but will likely be similar when the bill comes up in early November. Unless citizens stand up and loudly declare their opposition to this bill, it may pass.
This is not a measure that was pushed for by the public. There was no citizen upheaval demanding the right to carry concealed weapons on their person. This is a law that was pushed forward by firearms special interest groups.
The National Rifle Association used to be a source of sensibility, preaching responsible gun ownership and sponsoring hunter's safety courses. Somewhere along the line they've lost direction, and evidently their minds, by declaring that gun ownership cannot be restricted in any way, and bills like this are the end result. That it is being put forward despite public opposition is a mark of their influence.
Why the GOP and some Democrats have chosen to listen to lobbyists instead of the wishes of their constituents is simply baffling.
Wisconsin is one of only five remaining states with a total ban on carrying concealed weapons. It should stay that way.
Jessica Rane Gartner is a senior majoring in history and political science. You can e-mail her at opinion@dailycardinal.com.
