The time is finally upon us. The long-awaited concealed carry law is finally in effect and the response is overwhelming.
Thousands of people have already downloaded the online application that permits them to carry their firearm in public and hundreds more have either mailed in or personally dropped off an application. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that by 9 a.m. Nov. 1, the application’s website accumulated 400,000 hits and 83,000 downloaded applications. This is very impressive considering the site went up at midnight that night.
Although these numbers are overwhelming, they are not surprising. People have been waiting for this new law since 2003 when former Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed it once, and when he did so again in 2006. However, with the arrival of Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled legislature, the law finally passed within the first six months of his term. The wishes of the people of Wisconsin have been answered, and frankly, I’m scared.
Usually, when there’s this kind of reaction to a new piece of legislation, it is comforting to know that so many people care about what happens in our government. But the reaction to the site opening is quite upsetting. One citizen in the Wisconsin State Journal compared his experience to a kid waiting for Christmas morning. Many were unable to sleep the night before in anticipation. These people need to calm way down, and fast.
The last thing the state needs is an overly excited armed person. I understand where the excitement stems from, and I am glad people are excited over a piece of legislation. However, I am hoping that people mellow out, especially when they have guns attached to their hips. People who are excessively excited with a gun could pose a threat to themselves and others. I implore them to realize the responsibility that has been bestowed upon them and act accordingly for the safety of the public.
Furthermore, what is truly disturbing about this legislation is the minimum of four hours of training needed to apply for a concealed carry permit. Four hours to train a person to handle, load, maintain and shoot a gun properly. Not to mention the numerous safety precautions of gun handling, learning how to use a gun in a stressful situation by controlling the fight or flight response, and various other important aspects of gun safety. Can all of this really be taught in only four hours?
Traditionally, hunter’s safety is a 10-hour course spread over several days, but its focus is only on gun safety and handling and using guns in a hunting situation. There is no focus on using guns against other people for safety reasons, and since safety from other people is the main justification for this new bill, there needs to be extensive training in this area.
I could argue until I am blue in the face about how much I dislike the new concealed carry law, but the fact of the matter is that it has already passed. Therefore, I want to make sure that the people who are obtaining these new licenses are handling their guns responsibly and safely.
I can’t put my trust in inadequately trained and overly excited citizens to safely use guns in public. This is why police officers have to go through an entire academy to receive the proper training they need. I hope that citizens understand this and continue to educate themselves on safely handling and discharging guns, even after they completed the minuscule amount of required training. This kind of responsibility is nothing to be taken lightly, and it is my hope that this isn’t viewed as an exciting Christmas morning, but as a serious moment in Wisconsin history.
Nick Fritz is a junior majoring in marketing. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
