Posted on 11/02/2003 1:33:03 PM PST by jdege
Assembly to vote this week; Doyle still threatens veto
By Neil Rhines
Herald Times Reporter
MANITOWOC — On Oct. 24, a State Senate vote overturned a 130-year ban banning private citizens from carry a concealed weapon.
In a show of Republican solidarity, Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, and Sen. Alan Lasee, R-De Pere, voted for the bill. The Democratic vote was split, easily handing a victory to those for the Personal Protection Act, with a margin of 24-8.
But the Assembly vote is still pending, as is a threatened gubernatorial veto, which would require a two-thirds margin to override.
In a prepared statement, Leibham said he fully supports the PPA, because it, “will allow law-abiding individuals who, through extensive background checks and thorough safety-training courses, the right to defend themselves and their families.”
Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer, D-Manitowoc, who is scheduled to vote on the bill Wednesday, said he is still tabulating results from a survey he conducted to try and gauge public opinion. So far, he said, it’s “pretty even.”
Ziegelbauer said he is still uncertain as to how he will vote, but said the bill will receive a ‘no’ from him if it does not eliminate allowing firearms into taverns, no matter what percentage of income they derive from food.
“I want to get that out of there,” he said. “I don’t think guns and alcohol mix really good.”
Ziegelbauer said he has received great support from those who are for the bill, but don’t want guns in taverns.
Also, he’d like to see a provision that requires people who are carrying to immediately notify a police officer if they are stopped for any reason.
“I think this is something we can live with. I’m still undecided, but I’m appreciative of the volume of feedback,” he said.
Rep. Frank Lasee, R-Green Bay, will also cast his vote this week, but he will have less uncertainty as he decides what box to check.
“I support the bill,” Lasee said. “I think the votes are there to pass it, and by a large majority.”
Also, Lasee said he isn’t looking to further alter the bill.
“I don’t know that we’ll make any changes,” he said.
Whether the bill will override the governor’s promised veto has everything to do with the Democrats, but Lasee said he believes the initial vote will have enough muscle to override.
Alan Lasee, for one, said he doesn’t think that override will come with much difficulty.
“I think it (the bill) is well thought out and certainly well debated,” Lasee said.
According to Lasee, the concessions made on the Senate level should make the bill palatable to those who had concerns.
Approved carriers would not be allowed to carry the weapon into courthouses and other buildings prohibited by federal law, or airports, within 1,000 feet of schools, taverns unless their receipts total more than 50 percent food sales, and many public, government buildings.
Also, the bill bans guns in state universities and technical colleges, dormitories, hospitals, health care centers, domestic violence centers, and houses of worship.
Lasee said he understands some people’s concerns for where people may carry a firearm, but for him, it’s personal.
According to Lasee, he received a threatening phone call several years ago, and promptly blew it off. But when he received a second call that threatened to burn down his barn and commit acts of violence against his family, he began to worry.
“I thought about it and wondered, ‘what can be done?’” he said.
The nearest police response comes from 20 minutes away, so Lasee, against the law, carried a handgun for about two months.
“I thought, ‘well, this is crazy,’” he said. “Law abiding people ought to have the law working for them.”
A statement from the group Wisconsin Gun Owners says the PPA does not advance the rights of gun owners.
“Instead, it forces gun owners to be registered like criminals with the state Department of Justice in a computerized database — so it’s both a bad concealed carry bill and gun control, rolled into one,” said Corey Graff, executive director of Wisconsin Gun Owners.
Neil Rhines: 920-686-2105 or Nrhines@htrnews.com
Local lawmakers share viewpoint on weapons bill
Last year, Ziegelbauer voted NO on a far less restrictive version of this bill. From the sounds of it, he's setting up his justification / rationalization for voting NO this year as well.
Get ready, people. The assembly is going to vote on Wednesday.
Monitor, do you have that list of reps to call?
Who are these guys? I haven't heard of them before.
They should ALL be called, Republican and Democrat.
Call 1-800-362-9472 between the hours of 9am and 5pm, give the operator your address, and you'll be transferred, or given a toll-free number, to your legislators' offices. If you've already called or written, call again!
The bill in question is Assembly Bill 444 - the Personal Protection Act.
The following Republicans voted Nay on CCW last year, and are still in the Assembly this year:
Kaufert - Neenah
Lehman - Hartford
Olsen - Berlin
Ott - Forest Junction
Townsend - Fond du Lac
Underheim - Oshkosh
The following Democrats who voted Yea on CCW legislation last year, and are still in the Assembly this year:
Balow - Eau Claire
Gronemus - Whitehall
Hubler - Rice Lake
Schneider - Wisconsin Rapids
Sherman - Port Wing
Kreuser - Kenosha
Steinbrink - Pleasant Prairie
Wood - Janesville
The following are all northern WI Democrats who are new to the Assembly:
Molepske - Stevens Point
Van Akkeren - Sheboygan
Vruwink - Milladore
Never heard of them either. They have a web site.
Seems they oppose the Personal Protection Act CCW legislation because it amounts to registration, and they want Vermont/Alaska style carry instead.
Hey, wouldn't we all like Vermont/Alaska style carry?
But back in the real world...
A good week, though. An exciting week. I've waited for this week for a very long time, and I have good reason to believe that success is finally within reach if we all do our part.
You're welcome.
Ping someone else, someone I've forgotten.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.