The state Assembly voted early Wednesday morning to overturn a 130-year-old law forbidding the carrying of concealed weapons.
Lawmakers voted 58-40 to approve the bill after more than four hours of debate.
The legislation would allow state residents to apply with a county sheriff for a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Applicants would have to meet a series of requirements to receive a permit, including being at least 21 years old and being eligible to carry a firearm under federal law.
Current law, which has remained unchanged since 1878, completely bans the carrying of concealed weapons. Carrying firearms within 1000 feet of a school, into a government building or into a tavern or restaurant with a liquor license is also prohibited.
The penalty for carrying a concealed weapon is nine months in jail or a $10,000 fine. Under new legislation, a sheriff would have to do a background check on everyone–except police officers–before issuing a permit. Even with a permit, it would still be illegal to carry a concealed weapon into a police station or prison.
Normally, bills must be passed through a committee before the lawmakers make a vote on the bill. But in a rare move, the bill was picked up by the Assembly before it had been discussed by a committee.
Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Town of Norway, introduced the bill, which he claims will allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons. Dubbed Wisconsin’s Personal Protection Act, it would allow citizens who pass a criminal background check and receive extensive firearms training to be licensed to carry a concealed weapon.
“Quite honestly, allowing law-abiding citizens the opportunity for self-protection isn’t something new to most of the country; forty-four states currently allow some form of concealed carry,” Gunderson said.
Gunderson said statistics show that states with Right to Carry laws have lower crime rates. Gunderson said FBI data show states that allow citizens to carry concealed weapons have an 24 percent lower violent crime rate, 19 percent lower homicide rate and 39 percent lower robbery rate compared to other states.
“The fact is the nine lowest violent crime states in the country are in states that have concealed carry laws. These states that allow individuals to carry concealed firearms have seen tremendous drops in their rates of homicide, robbery and aggravated assault,” he said.
Opponents of the bill have criticized Assembly leaders for proceeding with the debate without legislative attorneys or drafters present to help analyze amendments that were being made to the bill.
They also say that allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons will lead to more violence and not ensure personal protection.
Rep. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, urged lawmakers not to pass the bill, saying the Legislature should be more concerned with taking guns away from criminals rather than making it easier for citizens to carry them.
The bill, which was passed to the Senate, must be approved by the Senate and signed by the governor before becoming law.
