Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Thursday, September 29, 2005
Another concealed carry bill set to be unveiled today
MADISON — The state Department of Justice would handle background checks and issue most gun permits under a concealed carry bill to be announced at a Capitol press conference today, said state Sen. Dave Zien, R-Eau Claire.
Those provisions are among the most significant changes made from last session's concealed carry bill, which called for sheriffs to issue permits, Zien said.
Supporters hope this bill has a better chance of becoming law than in 2003, when Republicans fell one vote shy of overriding Gov. Jim Doyle's veto of the bill in the Assembly.
Zien shared a few details of the latest proposal Wednesday, but would not release a draft copy until today because of legal concerns, he said. State Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager is suing Zien and state Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, the chief sponsor in the Assembly for allegedly denying draft copies of the bill to DOJ attorneys while giving others access.
The legislators shared copies only with the National Rifle Association and two private attorneys, who provided expertise on how the bill should be written, Zien said. Legislative attorneys contend bill drafts are not open records until the final version is written, Zien and Gunderson said.
Legislators had not responded to the Dane County Circuit Court lawsuit as of Wednesday, but releasing the draft today won't end the case, said DOJ spokesman Kelly Kennedy.
Opponents wasted little time in criticizing the 66-page proposal, which won't be formally introduced for a couple weeks while legislators seek co-sponsors, Zien said. A concealed carry bill has been introduced in each two-year legislative session since 1994.
The changes made from the last version won't matter much to opponents, said Jeri Bonavia, executive director of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort. "The bottom line is that any legislation that puts more hidden, loaded guns on our streets is irresponsible and dangerous," Bonavia said.
Gunderson said the Legislature needs to approve concealed carry legislation to accommodate recent court decisions. Forty-six states have approved some form of concealed carry legislation, he added.
The governor hasn't changed his position on concealed carry, said spokeswoman Melanie Fonder. "He's focused on job creation, and he wishes the Legislature was, too," Fonder said.
Zien said the bill has some provisions that would allow a property owner to prevent guns from being brought onto some properties, such as shopping malls. Last session's bill would have allowed some property owners to ban guns if they posted signs.
Tom Sheehan can be reached at tsheehan@madison.com or (608) 252-6198.
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