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Wisconsin lawmaker says citizens can help clean up ‘scum bags’

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122115nogunsA state lawmaker is arguing that armed citizens can help clean up the “scum bags” in society.

In a press release criticizing gun free zone policies, state Rep. Bob Gannon (R-Slinger) makes the case for more citizens carrying firearms to protect themselves from criminal elements. Gannon said “Wisconsin does not have a death penalty law, but with significant practice and careful aim, law abiding citizens can help clean our society of these scum bags. Criminals no longer have any fear of our courts or our prisons, so it’s time that the citizens of this fine state stand up and fight back.”

Gannon’s release follows a shooting at Madison’s East Towne Mall on Saturday, which is a gun free zone. A 19-year-old man received a non-fatal gunshot wound to the leg after a weapon was fired during a fight between two groups of people. The Slinger Republican argued the incident “makes clear that the leftist theory that a gun symbol inside of a circle with a line through it does not make the citizens of this state safer. It is evident that the criminal whom shot off his pistol at the mall either couldn’t read the gun ban sign or he didn’t comprehend the universal symbol that is now referred to as a target rich environment.”

The state’s concealed carry law allows private businesses and school campuses to prohibit weapons, even if a person has a license to carry. Gannon said thought that “a gang banger in the mall with a gun is going to think twice if there could be a law abiding CCW holder standing behind them fully prepared to shoot center mass, as this is how you’re trained to eliminate the threat these creeps pose to you, your family, and all law abiding citizens unwillingly dragged into their public crime spree.”

Gannon is co-sponsoring a bill that would end “gun free zone” policies on University of Wisconsin and technical college system campuses.

The Republican lawmaker’s comments quickly drew harsh criticism from state Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison), who accused Gannon of calling for a “vigilante uprising” that could endanger the public. She said “I am appalled by the dangerous rhetoric Representative Gannon chose to use in his press release. The incident at East Towne Mall was scary, but the answer is not to add more people with guns to the mix, and certainly not to call for private citizens to ‘shoot center mass.’ Representative Gannon is living in a James Bond dream world. If more guns made us safer, we would be the safest country in the world.”

Taylor argued the state should be working to make guns like the one used in the mall shooting harder to obtain. “Representative Gannon can keep repeating the same Fox talking points, but they are not grounded in fact,” she said.

DOJ dealing with concealed carry crunch

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Wisconsin’s Attorney General says getting out the first round of concealed carry permits on time could be difficult.

The Department of Justice has 45 days to process applications that come in during the first month of the new concealed carry law, which took effect a week ago. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen told lawmakers on Tuesday that could be a tough deadline to meet.

The agency received over 25,000 permit applications in the first week. So far, about 1,700 have been approved. DOJ says the application form has been downloaded from its website over 464,000 times since it went online last Tuesday.

Van Hollen says technology issues have slowed them down some because permits and background checks currently have to be done manually. He says that can be a very time consuming process.

A lack of manpower is also a problem. The concealed carry law created one full time position at DOJ to handle concealed carry and authorized 10 additional limited term employees. The agency also has 35 staff members from other areas within the department spending at least part of their days processing applications. Van Hollen says he could easily use about 70 to 80 more people, but he only has so many staff he can move around.

Despite the time crunch, Van Hollen is not asking for additional resources at this time. He says they want to meet the statutory requirements, and staff is working diligently to roll out permits as fast as they can.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports  (1:06)

Lawmakers reject concealed carry training rule

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Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen (PHOTO: WRN)

A legislative committee says Wisconsinites applying for a concealed carry permit will no longer need to go through four hours of training.

The requirement included in emergency rules written by the Department of Justice was struck down Monday by the Legislature’s Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules.

Assembly Republican Leader Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) and gun rights advocates had objected to the time restriction on training. Suder says the intent of the Legislature was to allow each permit applicant to decide on their own how much training they want to go through before carrying a concealed weapon. Suder says DOJ went beyond the intent of the Legislature when it wrote the emergency rules.

Appearing before the panel on Monday, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen defended the time requirement. Van Hollen says the minimum was in line with what several other states have in place and, in many cases, was even on the lower end.

Van Hollen says the four hour minimum is needed so they agency has an objective way to evaluate permit applications. He argued that its removal will essentially gut enforcement of that portion of the law and brings the state closer to not even having a training requirement.

As it was written, Van Hollen says the rule clearly did not have much of an impact on who was able to apply for a license. He notes the agency received over 20,000 applications since the law took effect last week, with over 900 permits granted so far.

Based on the change, those applying for a concealed carry permit will only need to have papers signed by a certified instructor indicating they have completed some type of course. There will be no requirement to show how long the course took or where it was taken, although it must be done in person. Additional training is not required for those who have been in the military or law enforcement, or who have already taken hunter safety courses.

The Department of Justice will have to take the changes into account as it writes permanent rules for concealed carry, which will go before the Legislature for approval at a later date. The agency says it will also begin applying the changes immediately to applications already under review.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:14)

Assembly allows concealed carry

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The state Assembly has approved a policy that allows concealed weapons in areas under its control.

Under the rules adopted Thursday morning, permit holders will be able carry concealed on the Assembly floor, in the public viewing gallery, and in committee hearing rooms. Lawmakers will have the ability to post signs banning hidden guns from their offices.

Majority Leader Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) says 14 other states allow hidden guns in their Capitol buildings, and have not seen any real problems. He says citizens can be trusted to do the right thing, especially if they have gone through the process to obtain a concealed carry permit.

The policy was amended to clarify that only concealed weapons are permitted, after Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) raised concerns that the original version could allow people to carry in rifles or shotguns.

Barca also offered an amendment to allow signs in the gallery. Several protesters have been removed recently for violating that rule and Barca argued that the First Amendment to the Constitution should be just as important as the Second. Republicans rejected the change, but said they are willing to consider the issue on its own at a later date.

The state Senate approved a policy earlier this week that allows concealed carry on the chamber floor and in committee hearings, but bans hidden guns from its public viewing galleries. Concealed carry is allowed in most other areas of the state Capitol building.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:04)

Concealed carry applications roll in

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The state Department of Justice moved quickly on Tuesday to review the first wave of applications from those wishing to carry concealed weapons in Wisconsin.

As of about 4pm, the agency had issued about 120 licenses out of the roughly 150 applications received so far at the Department’s Capitol office. Of those applications received Monday, 90 licenses had already been printed and prepared for mailing.

While many chose to drop off their applications in person at the Department’s Capitol office, many others appear to be preparing to mail them in. DOJ says over 800,000 people viewed the application for concealed carry that was posted on the agency’s website for the first time Tuesday morning. That’s compared to the 81,000 hits the site receives on a typical day.

In a statement, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen says he is encouraged to see people exercising their Second Amendment rights. Van Hollen received the first permit issued in the state Tuesday.

The concealed carry law allows anyone over the age of 21, who has not been convicted of a felony, to apply for a permit. Applicants need to have completed a four hour training course, pay a $50 fee, and pass a criminal background check.

The Department of Justice has 45 days to process applications received during the first month the law is in effect, although Van Hollen says his agency will “process applications from qualified residents as quickly as we can.”

State now accepting concealed carry applications

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Wisconsin’s concealed carry law officially took effect this morning. At about the same time, David Zibolski with the Department of Justice says the application for a permit also went online for the first time.

The four page application outlines the requirements to obtain a concealed carry permit and provides key information about the law. Those wishing to carry concealed in Wisconsin will have to fill out the application and submit it to the Department of Justice, along with a $50 fee and documentation showing they have met the training requirements for a permit.

Zibolski says staff is already reviewing applications and conducting background checks, so he believes permits will start being approved and mailed today. However, DOJ does expect quite a few applications to come in during the first week, so Zibolski says it might take awhile before all of them can be processed.

The agency has 45 days to review applications that come in during the first month and then 21 days to process permits that come in later.

Permits must be approved and issued before an applicant can carry a concealed weapon.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:02)

Most state buildings will allow concealed carry

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The Department of Administration has released its rules for concealed carry in state buildings. The policy announced Friday indicates permit holders will be allowed to carry hidden weapons in most state facilities, including the Capitol building.

Deputy Secretary Chris Schoenherr says most areas of the Capitol under DOA control will be open to permit holders. However, the law places restrictions on concealed carry in courtrooms and police stations, so it will not be permitted in the state Supreme Court Chambers or the Capitol Police station.

Each chamber of the Legislature will also pass its own rules, with the Assembly planning to allow permit holders to carry in all areas and the Senate expected to only ban them from its public viewing gallery. Each lawmaker will be able to decide whether to allow concealed weapons in their offices.

For other state facilities, Schoenherr says concealed carry will be widely allowed. Exceptions to that policy will be in offices used by the Department of Health Services to provide services to the mentally ill, areas where combustible materials are stored, and facilities used by the Department of Corrections and State Public Defender to provide services to those with criminal histories.

Schoenherr says signs will be posted at the entrances to buildings or areas inside of them where concealed weapons are prohibited.

State employees who obtain a permit will also be able to carry concealed while on the job. Schoenherr says the one exception that will be if the agency they work for determines carrying a weapon interferes with their job duties.

The Department of Administration plans to post a listing online of buildings with concealed carry restrictions by the time the law takes effect November first. State residents can begin applying for concealed carry permits next Tuesday.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:07)

Senate will ban public from concealed carry

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As the state prepares to unveil rules that will likely allow concealed weapons in the Capitol, the state Senate is poised to ban the public from carrying into its chambers.

The concealed carry law passed earlier this year takes effect on November first, allowing permit holders to carry hidden guns inside most government buildings, unless officials pass rules and post signs stating they are banned. The state Department of Administration is scheduled to outline a policy Friday morning that is expected to allow them inside parts of the Capitol under its control.

The law also allows the state Senate and Assembly to pass their own rules on whether hidden handguns will be allowed inside.

State Senate President Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) says he wants them banned from his chamber in both the gallery and on the floor. Ellis says “we have enough problems as it is without Tom Mix and Hopalong Cassidy with their six shooters out here.”

However, Ellis is only expected to get a portion of that wish granted. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) says an agreement among Republicans will only ban hidden guns in the Senate galleries. Members with permits will be allowed to carry them on the floor, they will be allowed in committee hearing rooms, and Senators will have the power to ban them from their offices.

Ellis says he would prefer to stick with the current policy that bans guns from the building, but admits he lost that battle.

Meanwhile, the state Assembly is expected to approve rules that allow concealed guns in that chamber. Democrats, such as state Senator Fred Risser (D-Madison), say the plan is a threat to public safety.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:02)

UPDATE: This story was edited from its original version to reflect the final compromise reached by Republicans, which will allow Senators with permits to carry concealed weapons in the chamber.

Governor approves concealed carry rules

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Governor Walker is signing off on rules for issuing concealed carry permits, but is also indicating he wants to see some changes to the final version of the policy. The emergency rules written by the Department of Justice and approved by the Governor Friday will cover how permits are issued when the law passed earlier this year takes effect on November First.

The rules are drawing fire from gun advocates, who are upset about requirements that permit holders complete at least four hours of training and have an instructor sign a certificate. NRA officials and the sponsor of the concealed carry bill argue the law did not set any standards for training and have accused the Department of Justice of overstepping its authority with the mandates.

In a statement issued Friday, a spokesman for the Governor says Walker had little choice but to approve the emergency rules as written, because not doing so could delay implementation of the law. Walker is urging DOJ to improve the permanent rules, which will be completed later and will require approval from him and the Legislature.

Proper training key for concealed carry

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As we get closer to concealed carry being the law in Wisconsin, one expert hopes the public recognizes the huge responsibility of carrying a gun. Residents of the state will be able to obtain the permits allowing them to carry a concealed handgun in most public places after November 1st.

Former Dane County Sheriff Rick Raemisch says those who are planning to carry should make sure they are well educated about firearm safety. He says there’s a lot of liability to carrying a firearm, and even more problems can occur if you decide to draw one on a person. [Read more…]