The right for Wisconsin citizens to carry concealed weapons moved one step closer to becoming law after the state Senate voted in favor of overriding Gov. Jim Doyle's veto during a floor session Thursday.
In a vote of 23-10, the state Senate gathered the two-thirds majority needed for an override. In addition to allowing permit-holding citizens to carry concealed weapons, Senate Bill 403 also outlines stipulations such as background checks for gun purchases and identification cards for former law- enforcement officials.
Now that the state Senate moved the bill a step further in the legislative process, SB 403 will now appear before the state Assembly for a second veto- override vote.
Several state Senators spoke out against the override, including state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison. Risser expressed concern for the bill, and said he thought SB 403 was unnecessary and undesirable.
'I see no social redeeming purpose whatsoever for this bill,' Risser said.
State Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, said he thought the bill would provide gun owners with more rights than other citizens.
'We are giving gun-owners greater anonymity than those who are licensed to drive,' Erpenbach said. 'I have every right to know who is carrying a gun and who is not.'
Democratic Senators also expressed concern with the recent priorities of the Legislature and the bills being presented to the Senate floor, such as the concealed-weapons bill.
'We're spending more time talking about guns than talking about health care,' Risser said.
State Senate Minority Leader Judith Robson, D-Beloit, concurred and said she thought the Senate should take up other issues.
'This isn't what people are talking about. They're talking about how they're going to keep their homes. We need to refocus our priorities,' Robson said.
State Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, said state Republicans want to work with the Democrats in a 'fair, bipartisan manner.' Shultz also defended the importance of the bill.
'We've been tolerant, but to suggest we're wasting time is ?? an insult to our tolerance,' Schultz said.
State Sen. Russell Decker, D-Schofield, extended bi-partisan support across the aisle and told those in favor of the veto override that they've got a friend.
'[Blaming violence on concealed weapons] is like blaming [a] pen for misspelled words?? no connection,' Decker said.
Although SB 403 is moving forward, Risser said he is still very concerned over a bill he says would put the public at risk and comprise safety.
'[There would be guns] in the shopping malls, banks, movie theaters??even the State Capitol,' Risser said.
