• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Legislature / ‘Constitutional carry’ bill gets hearing at Capitol

‘Constitutional carry’ bill gets hearing at Capitol

May 31, 2017 By Bob Hague

A controversial bill to change Wisconsin’s open carry law received a public hearing Wednesday at the Capitol. “Constitutional carry” allows gun owners to carry concealed without getting training or state permits.

Milwaukee Democrat, State Senator Lena Taylor, has a problem with that. “I voted for concealed carry. I believe that people have a right to carry. But I believe that some levels of restriction are appropriate,” Taylor said.

The bill had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, chaired by Racine Republican Van Wanggard. “This bill does not preclude somebody from receiving training,” noted Wanggard, a former law enforcement officer who said he believes people who carry should get training. The current requirement is only four hours. This bill also essentially nullifies the state’s gun free schools statute, although districts may still post their schools to prohibit weapons.

The bills’ Senate author, Republican David Craig, said his bill mirrors gun laws already in place in 12 other states, “from relatively conservative Arizona, to Bernie Sanders own home state of Vermont.”

The bill has the support of the National Rifle Association, whose lobbyist Scott Meyer testified in favor of it. Meyer said the gun rights organization has learned that many people can’t afford training. “What we also learned . . . one of the great equalizers after the Emancipation Proclamation, was firearms ownership for the blacks.”

Taylor – who is African-American – objected to Meyer’s choice of words. “That wasn’t a great way to say it, don’t say ‘the blacks,'” Taylor said.

Wanggard said he had no immediate plans to schedule a committee vote on the bill.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Politics / Govt, Top Story



Featured Stories

Future of abortion in Wisconsin hinges on SCOTUS ‘Roe’ decision

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

Medical marijuana legislation gets public hearing at Capitol

Tommy Thompson announces he will not run for governor

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC