The National Rifle Association and the author of a new law allowing gun owners to carry concealed weapons have criticized the Department of Justice, saying it's too stringent in interpreting the law.
The DOJ has yet to enact rules interpreting the law, which goes into effect Nov. 1, and Democrats have complained the Legislature passed the law without a clear idea of how it would be enacted.
The National Rifle Association sent a letter to Attorney General J.B.Van Hollen Wednesday criticizing the DOJ saying he was contemplating placing too many restrictions on the law.
""We have received troubling reports that DOJ's proposed rules to implement the law would contain requirements not present in the law itself,"" Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, said.
Cox said the NRA was concerned with the DOJ's plan to require those trying to get a permit to have four hours of training.
State Sen. Pam Galloway, R-Wausau, author of the concealed carry legislation, said in a letter that Van Hollen's assertion there should be a four-hour training minimum was an ""overreach.""
""I'm disappointed because I thought the days of agency bureaucrats using administrative rules to change the law would come to an end,"" Galloway said.
The group took issue with a proposal that could require state and national organizations that train firearms instructors, like the NRA, to obtain the DOJ's certification as well.
Since the NRA is already recognized nationally, Cox said the DOJ has no authority to subject firearms trainers certified under the NRA to be certified under the DOJ.
The DOJ will submit the drafted rules to Gov. Scott Walker in the next few days.
