- Wisconsin has come a step closer to allowing law-abiding
citizens to be trained and licensed to carry a concealed weapon for self-defense.
The Assembly Criminal Justice Committee passed the Personal Protection
Act (PPA) on a bipartisan 10-4 vote. The action responds to overwhelming
support for the measure in committee hearings last week.
-
- Wisconsin is one of only six states that do not allow
any citizens who is not a law enforcement officer to carry a concealed
weapon for self-defense.
-
- The bill, AB 675, would allow law-abiding citizens who
have passed a stringent background check and completed firearms training
to receive a license to carry a concealed weapon. These citizens would
not be allowed to carry in certain places such as schools and taverns.
-
- Studies in the states with similar provisions demonstrate
that the chance that a law-abiding citizen may have a concealed weapon
actually reduces violent crime.
-
- "No one can use common sense or FBI crime statistics
to argue against the Personal Protection Act," said Senate author
Dave Zien (R-Wheaton). "The facts are on our side. These laws prevent
crime."
-
- The Criminal Justice Committee, Chaired by Representative
Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford), heard similar testimony from many of the 214
people who attended hearings in Eau Claire and Waukesha. A total of ten
people appeared against the bill.
-
- "Scott Suder took the committee outside Madison
to hear what real, salt-of-the-Earth citizens had to say," said Zien.
"The response was overwhelming."
-
- Following the hearings Suder brought the bill to Wednesday's
vote.
-
- "Chairman Suder went out to hear the will of the
people and then he acted on what he heard," said Zien. "That's
how our government is supposed to work."
-
- The bill was introduced in the last two-year legislative
session and received similar support in two hearings. The vote in Suder's
Committee marks the first legislative test for the bill.
-
- Zien is seeking a hearing on the Senate version of the
PPA, SB 357. He will work to bring the bill to the a vote in both houses
in the final month of the Legislative Session. He credits a bipartisan,
grassroots citizen effort with advancing the bill to this point.
-
- "It has been humbling to see citizens who have never
been involved become active and work through the process for change,"
said Zien. "They deserve the credit for everything we've accomplished
so far."
-
- "We've got a long way to go. But, the momentum is
all on our side." Said Zien
-
-
- For more information: Dave Zien 608 266-7511 http://www.wispolitics.com/freeser/pr/pr0202/Feb21/pr02022103.html
|
