Wisconsin residents will find out on Tuesday if conceal and

carry will be the new law, when the Assembly votes on whether to

override Gov. Jim Doyle’s veto. The bill’s passage would grant

students the right to lawfully carry a firearm in some public

places after obtaining a permit and going through the propoer

training required under the law.  

Likewise, many students would be able to obtain a weapon’s

permit and carry a handgun if the override is successful, a thought

that worries some University of Wisconsin students.

“If you have a gun, chances are you’re more likely to use it,”

UW student Laura Nelson said. “There’s already been a lot of

violence recently with the Ogg Hall and University Square attacks,

so I don’t think adding more handguns is what we need.”

Campus security officials also are hesitant about the possible

effects of the bill, if passed.

“I know this bill will not be beneficial in our policing efforts

on campus,” Sgt. Jerome Annatto, Assistant to the Chief of UW

Police, said. “You always run the risk of walking on rocky ground

anytime fire-arms are introduced into a campus environment. The

potential for violence increases when more people are armed.”

However, some students would like the ability to protect

themselves from possible attackers with a firearm.

“Personally, if a 250-pound guy is trying to attack me, I’d like

the option of being able to defend myself any way I can,” UW

student Jessica Jensen said, who has taken steps to protect herself

by taking self-defense classes. She currently carries pepper spray

with her for further protection.

Concealed weapons opponents contend this legislation negatively

impacts the ability of law enforcement officials to do their job

effectively. Under the proposed law, police officers would not be

informed as to whether a vehicle’s driver has a concealed weapons

permit.

“The inability for officers to know who has a permitted weapon

is very challenging,” Casey Perry, Director of Wisconsin State

Troopers, said. “This bill eliminates knowing the whole story when

an officer approaches a vehicle.”

But some who support a concealed weapons law say that many of

the fears surrounding the legislation are unfounded.

“There is a long laundry list of places where you could not

carry a firearm into,” Jim Fendry of the Wisconsin Pro-Gun Movement

said. “To obtain a valid handgun permit, an individual needs to

pass not only a criminal background check, but a handgun safety

class which explains specifically where handguns are allowed.”

Fendry and other supporters of the law have joined forces with

Senate and Assembly Republicans in hopes of passing the

controversial conceal and carry legislation.

Wisconsin would become the 47th state to pass concealed handgun

legislation if the override is successful.