A crowded, raucous public hearing at the Capitol Wednesday focused on a divisive bill that could allow Wisconsin residents to carry concealed weapons.
The Senate Judiciary Committee and Assembly Criminal Justice Committee heard testimony from legislators, law enforcement officials, advocacy group representatives and citizens.
The bill, which would allow Wisconsin residents to register to carry a concealed weapon after passing a background check and a training course, has won the support of second amendment proponents but faced scrutiny from gun control advocates.
The legislation's authors, Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, and Sen. David Zien, R-Eau Claire, both provided strong words in support of the bill. Gunderson asserted that the bill's opponents 'have spent a lot of time fear-mongering about creating the wild, wild west.'
Zien emphasized the need to protect citizens, saying the bill is intended to 'level the playing field'the death field.' He went on to pledge that the legislation would allow only law-abiding Wisconsinites to carry weapons, suggesting that 'criminals, druggies and wackos' would not be allowed to enter the necessary training courses.
He also invoked the words of Ted Nugent, saying, 'If people don't want to defend themselves, they deserve to die.'
Oregon Police Chief Doug Pettit, representing the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, testified against the bill, noting the majority of his organization's members did not support it.
He cited several concerns the law enforcement community has about the legislation, reserving his strongest criticism for the fact that, while applicants may use any firearm to complete the training, they will be free to purchase any other firearm they wish after passing'a condition Pettit described as a 'fatal flaw.'
The committees also heard testimony from Vince Colletti, a Milwaukee man who defended himself from assailants with a hunting rifle he had in his truck. His attackers, Colletti claimed, have not been brought up on any charges, while he was booked for breaking current concealed-carry laws.
Rep. Robert Turner, D-Racine, pointed out that despite the unfortunate nature of Colletti's situation, his firearm seemed to make no difference in deterring the assailants.
Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Texas, whose parents were killed in a 1991 massacre before a similar bill was passed in Texas, explained that Wisconsin is one of only four states in the union that do not permit carrying concealed weapons.
'If you're against this,' she said, 'you're saying constituents of other states are more violent.'
