Gov. Jim Doyle, surrounded by police officers, sheriffs, deputies and state troopers, announced his veto of SB214 Thursday, which would allow persons to carry concealed weapons into public places and, a concern to UW-Madison students, university property.
\SB214 is a fundamentally flawed piece of legislation. I join the majority of Wisconsin law enforcement that lifting the state's 133-year-old ban on the carrying of concealed weapons is neither warranted nor appropriate,"" said Doyle in a press release.
The primary objection Doyle and UW-Madison administration has against the bill is its loosened restrictions on guns in school zones.
According to Erik Christianson, UW System spokesperson, the Legislature amended the bill to exempt concealed weapons in university buildings, still allowing people to carry guns on campus grounds.
""Universities are places where ideas are discussed and debated ... in open forums, and sometimes that brings along great passion,"" Christianson said, adding he feared some might resort to violence to resolve differences.
""For our campuses, we didn't feel like that was the right approach to take,"" he said.
Doyle also recognized the objections law enforcement officials had over the bill. Out of 72 Wisconsin sheriffs, only three support a concealed-carry law. Additionally, 65 sheriffs vowed to ""opt out"" of the bill.
Randy Williams, first vice president of the Wisconsin Chief's Association, said law enforcement officials were very pleased to see Doyle's support, adding a majority of officers do not support concealed carry.
State Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer, R-W. Bend, was disappointed in Doyle's veto, saying SB214 was a bill intended to provide personal safety to Wisconsin citizens, offering them protection if subjected to a violent attack.
""It's unfortunate that the governor disregarded the vote of 24 Senators of both parties and with over a two-thirds majority voting in favor of the bill, I would assume override would be inevitable,"" she said in a press release.
The bill returns to the Legislature Dec. 1, where it will require a two-thirds majority in the state Assembly and Senate to override Doyle's veto.
