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Posted on 11/10/2011 4:39:51 AM PST by marktwain
Individuals applying for concealed carry permits in Wisconsin will no longer face minimum training requirements, a change welcomed with open arms by Second Amendment groups and other gun rights supporters.
But the sudden switch has thrown a wrench into the plans of Blackhawk Technical College, which hosted its first four-hour training course last Friday and had planned to offer additional classes in the near future, said Mark Brown, the Dean of Public Safety there.
"It will impact our plans," Brown said in an email Tuesday. "We plan to meet this week to discuss this issue and come up with a game plan. At this point there seems to be too much turmoil with our government, and I believe all the tech colleges are reassessing this program and what they will be doing with it."
Since the time of its drafting and through its implementation, Wisconsin's concealed carry law garnered much debate, and few people - law enforcement and legal professionals, included - seem to fully understand its intricacies.
In early October, the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce held a seminar for its members to explain how businesses could be impacted.
Currently, the Beloit City Council is reviewing an ordinance that would counteract the state legislation and reinstate bans of dangerous weapons in city buildings like City Hall. Discussion of the ordinance drew public criticism and a round of questions from councilors at Monday's council meeting.
Interestingly enough, many of those who attended Blackhawk Tech's firearms safety course last week identified themselves as experienced, well-trained gun owners. They weren't there to relearn basics like loading and unloading a chamber, but rather, were seeking better understanding of Wisconsin's new law, many said.
Bruce Witkowski, a Beloit resident who served in the U.S. Navy and remains an avid hunter today, sat through the class with his wife Diane, who said she had experience with target shooting.
Two older gentlemen in the room's rear identified themselves as professional precision shooters, and several individuals said they already had concealed carry permits in other states.
"To me it's just a course to come and see what it's all about," said Brian Davidson, who said he served on the Beloit Police Department reserve from 1991 to 1996.
Despite all the experience in the room, instructor Douglas Anderson, a retired Beloit Police Department detective, told the class to anticipate running over the four-hour time period.
"We'll spend a little more time than the state has planned because we believe it is so important," he said.
Blackhawk chose Anderson and fellow instructor Corey Denzer, Brown said, because both men were certified to teach the Department of Justice's curriculum. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, who originally implemented the four-hour rule, testified Monday in favor of maintaining minimum training requirements.
There's no doubt Blackhawk's course would be informative for first-time gun users. Anderson and Denzer were thorough with their instruction, pointing out specific mechanics on model guns and using class discussion to aid their lessons.
Anderson said gun owners should treat gun safety procedures as a "ritual" rather than an absent-minded "routine." He challenged experienced students to ask themselves if they'd grown complacent with lazy, unsafe habits.
"Your are responsible for that bullet every time you pull that trigger," he said authoritatively.
The class cost $4 for seniors and $15 for everyone else, Brown said.
The legislature is doing its job, the local community colledge puts on an excellent but inexpensive course that does the job. It is not constitutional carry, but it is, in my opinion, the best shall issue ccw law in the U.S.
Constitutional carry will come to Wisconsin!
Most of the CCW classes in Michigan cost about $300 and take a full day.
The problem with eliminating the training requirement in Wis. is that they will not gain reciprocity with other states. Either that or end up with a two tier permit system like ND, one level covers you in state and another level gains recognition by reciprocity states.
They should advertise that while training isn’t mandatory, it is a very, very good idea. The advertisements would be easy, just compare guns with other machines.
“Sure you could probably ride a motorcycle without training, but isn’t it just better to get some training first? The same with a gun. Like any tool, it’s just better to know how to use it safely.”
I bet you that if they thought about it for a bit, they could offer a basic, intermediate and advanced gun course. Just off the top of my head I could probably work up a 3 semester curriculum, no sweat. Including a bunch of live fire “laboratories”.
Any one who carries should give some serious thought to additional classes.
Target shooting, hunting and military service are one thing. Carrying every where you go in daily life is a different matter.
Additional training with a good instructor could make the difference between life and death or grief that you take with you the rest of your life.
If heaven forbid you have to pull your weapon it is then that your training and knowledge comes into play.
Well said.
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