Conffederate
Confederate

January 17, 2011

A Change in the Wisconsin Wind

Two states, and two only, deny their citizens the right to carry concealed weapons: Wisconsin and Illinois. The District of Columbia, of course, also bans concealed carry, but despite the best efforts of many Democrats, DC is not a state, at least not yet. However, it seems that change is in the Wisconsin wind.

With the recent election of a Republican governor and Republican majorities in both houses of the Wisconsin legislature, it seems a foregone conclusion that concealed carry will become law this year. Gun ownership has always been high in Wisconsin, and two attempts to pass concealed carry in recent years were vetoed by Democrat Governor Jim Doyle, but now Republican Scott Walker is in the governor’s mansion and has expressed his support for such measures.

In a recent Lacrosse Tribune story picked up by Reuters (available here), the anti-gun position was prominently represented. According to Jeri Bonavia, executive director of “Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort,” “We really don’t believe that more people carrying guns in public is beneficial in any way. In fact, we think it’s harmful.” Reporter John Rondy commented, “A college dropout opened fire on a crowd gathering for an event by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona on January 8, killing six people and wounding 13, including Giffords. The shooting has raised questions about permissive U.S. guns laws.”

For anti-gun “activists,” any occasion raises questions about “permissive U.S. Guns laws.” Changes in the weather, cattle stampedes, the existence of Sarah Palin, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, George W. Bush, any criticism of Barack Obama or his policies, hangnails, bad breath, any occasion at all. Gun banners see the need for more gun bans in the ocean, clouds, the stars, the smile of a child, reflected in a lover’s eyes, perhaps even as a cure for global warming, which guns, like virtually everything else in the known universe, surely cause.

Illinois is, until decades of Democrat corruption and mismanagement cause it to become completely bankrupt and lead to its inevitable collapse, hopeless. It will likely remain, for some time, one of the last anti-gun bastions in the nation. But Wisconsin may, in the near future, rejoin the constitutional republic that Ben Franklin helped to establish and feared we might lose. The ultimate verdict on that matter remains out, but with this small light of hope in Wisconsin, there is renewed reason for hope and perhaps early congratulations to the people of Wisconsin who have taken the first steps to taking back their government.

Posted by MikeM at January 17, 2011 11:15 PM
Comments

Just so you know, Wisconsin is an open carry state.

Posted by: Tracy Coyle at January 18, 2011 03:51 AM

"But Wisconsin may, in the near future, rejoin the constitutional republic that Ben Franklin helped to establish and feared we might lose."

That republic was lost in 1942 with the Filburn decision - when the Supreme Court handed the Federal Gov't unlimited powers. It has taken a long time for the full import to develop but the idea that we any longer live in a constitutional republic is laughable.

Posted by: gasminder at January 18, 2011 07:31 AM

C'mon WI. If IA can do it, so can you!

Posted by: Tim at January 18, 2011 08:40 AM

No offense intended Tracy, but there really aren't any open carry states. You might be able to eventually beat whatever else they charge you with, but in every state there are significant jurisdictions where open carry will get you charged with creating a disturbance, refusing a lawful order, brandishing, resisting arrest, and whatever other charges they decide to trump up.

Posted by: Tracy at January 18, 2011 12:26 PM

Just because a State allows SOME people a CCW, does not mean that they do not deny their citizens the right to carry. Here in Maryland you acctually have to be chased into MD State Police Headquarters by a person with a knife, to even get put on the list to get a permit. Those of us who would like the right to defend ourselves and the good people in the community on a day to day basis - are SOL.

Posted by: Web at January 18, 2011 03:04 PM

Web beat me to it - Maryland doesn't allow regular folks to carry. Politicians, VIPs, and violent criminals.

Posted by: dustydog at January 18, 2011 03:58 PM

Technically, CA allows ccw. However, it is at the discretion of the county sheriff. Rural counties- no problem. Some counties, as long as you contribute to the sheriff's re-election fund. Others, there's just no way the sheriff will grant a CCW. SAF currently suing for the lack of standards across counties.

Posted by: styrgwillidar at January 18, 2011 04:39 PM

One hopes they DO rejoin us...

Posted by: Old NFO at January 18, 2011 06:52 PM