Two more voices speaking out strongly against concealed weapons in Wisconsin, a proposal that their state’s Senate will be voting on today.
First from the Badger Herald, the Wisconsin State Troopers Association said last week that it would endorse the legislation, but just barely– even they still have their doubts.
Concealed-carry legislation now faces opposition from several police organizations in the state. The legislation gained momentum last week as it passed the Joint Finance Committee and also garnered the approval of the Wisconsin Troopers Association.
Opposition from police organizations may hinder its support in Wisconsin and require additional amendments.
“I can see how this would make some people in society feel safer, but myself, as a law enforcement officer, it would not make me feel safer knowing there are that many more guns out on the street,†Lt. Bradley Florence, a Green Bay Police Department shift supervisor said.
Florence also noted that although concealed-carry licensing would mandate prior training, such training would not ensure proper actions in a “stressful situation.â€
As we said before, “stressful situation” or not, guns are going to be dangerous no matter who’s holding them. Because of that, both the Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association and the Wisconsin County Police Association remain in opposition to this unnecessary and dangerous bill. A few police might have been taken in by the gun lobby, but the majority of police in Wisconsin still know the truth: that this bill would make their streets less safe.
And our friends at the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort run one more press release before the vote, saying that the bill’s sponsors would rather “spend and shoot” then take the time to consider what’s really best and safest for Wisconsin’s citizens.
“Spend and shoot” politicians will create a massive financial burden to taxpayers and threaten public safety if the current carrying concealed weapons (CCW) legislation becomes law in Wisconsin, according to Jeri Bonavia of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort and advocates from the “NO CCW Coalition.” State lawmakers in the Senate are set to vote on the pending CCW legislation today, while the Assembly may vote on it as early as Thursday.
Under the pending CCW legislation, cities and counties could only prohibit permit holders from carrying hidden and loaded handguns into municipal buildings — such as city hall, community centers, or public libraries — if cities purchase and staff metal detectors at every entrance. In yet another costly expenditure, municipalities would also be mandated to provide secure lockers so permit holders could store loaded handguns on the premises.
Such measures would cost millions of dollars, amounting to an annual and massive unfunded mandate for each Wisconsin city and locale. In short, this law would strip away money from law enforcement officials, libraries, and communities trying to provide vital local services.
As if you needed a reason to opposed loaded weapons in the streets, this bill has the potential to make Wisconsin’s lawmakers spend money on metal detectors and security instead of education and services. It’s more than clear that this bill is something Wisconsin doesn’t want, and definitely doesn’t need.
