Lammie
Campaign Veteran
imported post
This is a comment I posted on the Digg website. It's located under John's folder.
"See the forest for the trees"
I am a Wisconsinite. I don't have any objection to concealed carry in Wisconsin, but only if it is an elected option to open carry or only if it replaces open carry with no additional restrictions. I
am often puzzled when I read or hear comments such as "Wisconsin and Illinois are the only two states that don't have some kind of provision authorizing concealed carry". The comment is usually said in the context that Wisconsin is a maverick state because it does not allowconcealed carry. Almost as if the poor Wisconsin citizens have no way of protecting themselves and are at the mercy of the criminal elements. Of course nothing is farther from the truth. Certainly those factions that are trying to sell concealed carry and certainly the Wisconsin politicians and law enforcement don't want us to know it, but the fact is Wisconsin citizens have more capability to defend themselves with firearms than possibly any other state in the union. The only condition is that the carried firearm must be visible.
No other state has more relaxed firearm carry laws than Wisconsin with the exception of possibly Alaska and Vermont. In Wisconsin there are only four restricted locations; inside goverment buildings, in a facility that serves on sale alcohol(without owner permission) and restriction on handguns only, open carry in a vehicle and finally prohibition of unloaded and uncased firearms on public property within 1000 feet of a 1-12 school property. The state has a right to bear arms amendment in it's constitution that states in clear and consise words that "The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose". The state also has a preemption statute that prevents any local goverment from enacting firearm regulation more strict than those at the state level. The state supreme court has ruled open carry is a constitutionaly protected right and that ruling has been voiced by the attorney general office. Less than three weeks ago a court case judgement found that open carry is a constitutional element and a charge of disorderly conduct for doing so is not permitted.
So Wisconsin has nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to providing it's citizens the right to keep and bear arms for personal exception. The only thing keeping it from being practiced more frequently is statewide recognition by law enforcement that open carry rights exist and the continued harassment by law enforcement of those individuals that dare exercise those rights.
To eviserate our constitutional right to open carry firearms for personal protection in order to say that Wisconsin has now joined the fold of concealed carry would be absurd.
This is a comment I posted on the Digg website. It's located under John's folder.
"See the forest for the trees"
I am a Wisconsinite. I don't have any objection to concealed carry in Wisconsin, but only if it is an elected option to open carry or only if it replaces open carry with no additional restrictions. I
am often puzzled when I read or hear comments such as "Wisconsin and Illinois are the only two states that don't have some kind of provision authorizing concealed carry". The comment is usually said in the context that Wisconsin is a maverick state because it does not allowconcealed carry. Almost as if the poor Wisconsin citizens have no way of protecting themselves and are at the mercy of the criminal elements. Of course nothing is farther from the truth. Certainly those factions that are trying to sell concealed carry and certainly the Wisconsin politicians and law enforcement don't want us to know it, but the fact is Wisconsin citizens have more capability to defend themselves with firearms than possibly any other state in the union. The only condition is that the carried firearm must be visible.
No other state has more relaxed firearm carry laws than Wisconsin with the exception of possibly Alaska and Vermont. In Wisconsin there are only four restricted locations; inside goverment buildings, in a facility that serves on sale alcohol(without owner permission) and restriction on handguns only, open carry in a vehicle and finally prohibition of unloaded and uncased firearms on public property within 1000 feet of a 1-12 school property. The state has a right to bear arms amendment in it's constitution that states in clear and consise words that "The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose". The state also has a preemption statute that prevents any local goverment from enacting firearm regulation more strict than those at the state level. The state supreme court has ruled open carry is a constitutionaly protected right and that ruling has been voiced by the attorney general office. Less than three weeks ago a court case judgement found that open carry is a constitutional element and a charge of disorderly conduct for doing so is not permitted.
So Wisconsin has nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to providing it's citizens the right to keep and bear arms for personal exception. The only thing keeping it from being practiced more frequently is statewide recognition by law enforcement that open carry rights exist and the continued harassment by law enforcement of those individuals that dare exercise those rights.
To eviserate our constitutional right to open carry firearms for personal protection in order to say that Wisconsin has now joined the fold of concealed carry would be absurd.