Ok, a serious post. This calls for serious cheese: Aged Sharp Cheddar. I'm going with my favorite 7 year.
Concealed Carry (CC) of a Weapon is most likely going to become law in Wisconsin. The Governor opposes it, but the Senate has the numbers to override his veto this time around.
Do I feel CC will change our crime stats in Wisconsin? No, not one bit. Do I feel some drunken idiot will haul it out in a bar fight & seriously kill or injure someone? Yes.
For those curious, CC means the following, per our WI proposed law:
-You could carry a concealed weapon except:
in a hospital, tavern, school (including within 100 feet from school property) or police station
those carrying must have a blood alcohol level of less than .02%;
Of course someone would have to catch you carrying it to ticket you (you'd then lose your right to CC)
-You would need a permit. The list of people granted these permits would likely not be published (this is a contentious point). If you have any felonies, as reviewed in a background check, you cannot obtain a permit. It includes a provision that would make it a felony for any person to make a false statement on the application for a permit.
-You would need to take a training course (likely a 4 hour course) by a qualified, state approved instructor.
-If in contact with law enforcement official (traffic stop, etc), you must immediately tell the officer you are carrying a concealed weapon.
Ok, my beef. Wisconsin has very low violent crime statistics. Bob in Podunk, WI doesn't NEED to carry a weapon. And does Milwaukee need more guns? I don't think so. Sure, you have a right to bear arms, but there will always be restrictions on that for public safety.
And for those CC advocates, do they realize it would be illegal to pull a gun if, for example, there was a bar fight without a gun they wanted to break up? There must be deadly force displayed in order to pull the gun. And no, fists are generally not considered deadly force.
I just don't see any good coming out of this. I see college idiots coming to the annual 100,000 person Halloween Party in downtown Madison with a concealed weapon just to be cool. They get drunk, wave a gun around. Sure, they'd get it taken away, but would it be taken away & their priveleges revoked before or after the trigger went off?
So what are your state's laws? How do you feel about them?
ETA: I updated my profile. Next project: links.
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13 comments:
Mmmm. Aged Sharp.
Okay, the serious side of this. Texas has a concealed handgun law. To be honest, I've never paid much attention to it and it's never really affected me one way or the other. Except, Larry is probably going to get his concealed handgun permit soon. After the Katrina disaster, he was carrying concealed somewhat illegally. And while it all worked out, it was quite the realization that most of those who do carry concealed don't do it just for shits and grins and fun and showing off. They are folks who are probably already toting their pistols and doing so illegally. It won't change much in the grand scheme of crooks and criminals just because they don't abide by the laws anyway.
There are major restrictions here on who can even purchase a gun, let alone what kind of background checks and whatnot they do for those who apply to carry concealed. I'm guessing WI wouldn't be too much different.
On a side note, I have never shot a gun of any type. Well, I don't really count a BB gun as a real gun. That said, Larry and I have been tossing around the idea of me learning to shoot his more for protection just in case something were to happen than anything. We live out in the middle of nowhere and while we have neighbors, they are about an acre away. So if someone were to try to break in, no one would see or hear anything. And with him working nights .... it's a thought. Also, driving into Dallas on occasion...I might think about carrying concealed just as a legal bit of self protection.
Not sure of our laws completely because Michelle won't let me own a gun.
I grew up my entire life around guns. My father taught me to hunt with him when I was a young girl.
I beleive in the right to bear arms but I also believe in restrictions and strcit laws and such. I don't think just anyone anywhere can walk around with a gun in their back belt loop. I find that to be just a bit dangerous.
CC supporters have been getting speakers up here from Texas, talking about how CC has saved their lives. You are seen as the model CC state, apparently.
I just don't see the need in Wisconsin. We have very few large cities and only three with significant violent crime stats (drug corridor between Chicago & Milwaukee). However, the victims of these violent crimes are often those with criminal histories, anyway.
I do see Texas as having a different culture than Wisconsin. I would think guns are just a more standard item there. I mean, isn't it a mandatory accessory with your boots & hat? ;-)
I might be overreacting, but I just don't think it's necessary.
momma, we have a handgun in it's case by the bed. I do take some comfort in knowing it's there & knowing I could shoot it if I had to. We also live in country & it's a little slice of comfort.
Nolay & his buddies all go on shooting adventures in the woods. All are military peeps & one is a real gun collector. I shot a 50 calliber machine gun. That was weird. I refuse to try Chris's deer hunting rifle though because I've seen the bruises it can cause. I'm not stupid. :-)
Chris is a proponent of carrying a gun for his job (p&p agents even have to check out pepper spray now), but they aren't allowed to. He thinks if CC passes, agents may be allowed to carry weapons. However, he's surprisingly still against CC.
from carey's post: "My father taught me to hunt with him when I was a young girl."
See, tell him it's his fault you are bisexual. What did he expect? :-)
(Mind you, I know many women that hunt. My sweet little nice is taking an interest in squirrel hunting. It's not my cup of tea. I'll just cook the vicitims.) Muwahahahaha!
I'm in GA. I think anything goes.
Seriously, I totally freaked out when a coworker told me she carries a pistol in her purse. Never would have thought she did. Now, I often wonder who's packing.
I have no interest in owning a gun. DH would like to get one.
Larry is ex military, too. I think that came up though when Nolay was thinking about returning to the military a while back.
I suppose I've never seen it as a major thing, but like you said...Texas and Wisconsin are very different cultures.
As for Nolay carrying on the job...well, suffice it to say that while you'd think Paramedics and EMTs could carry concealed, they cannot. And the other night, had they been able to carry, it probably would have prevented the theft of the ambulance over in a major city nearby. Why was the ambulance stolen? Drugs. *rolls eyes* I doubt they'd let P&P officers carry. I don't think they do here. I could be wrong though.
In all honesty, I'm all for the concealed handgun laws. And I will say that the majority of businesses around Texas do have signs posted that you cannot carry inside their premises.
I've been looking for a reason to blame my Dad. This is perfect. LMAO
My Dad has a concealed permit, they're not that easy to get in MI. He got one because he is a gunsmith. *rolls eyes* BS he got one to be cool. But he was allowed one because he is a gunsmith and "supposedly" would need to protect himself because he's a good person to rob (since he transports guns and cash).
I don't think concealed curry will really work.
The smell would give it away.
Bob <--misreading titles since forever
LOL @ Bob. I have nothing to add. I don't much care for guns, but that's a pretty standard opinion here. My uncle, cousins and mother all shoot at a club. My one cousin is good enough to have won her division.
She has several permits. One to transport (in properly sealed and locked case), one to own and I'm sure there's one more, but I forget what. Maybe to buy ammo. Anyway, she can't even stop for gas on the way to gun club if the station doesn't have pay-at-the-pump, because the permit requires her to have the case in sight at all times, but she's not allowed to carry it with her except house to car, car to club. It's all very weird.
I don't really have a point.
Mmmm...cheddar.
I'm not really sure about our laws, but I don't think we have this in NJ. I think momma made some good points, though.
*takes some cheddar before Bob scarfs it all up*
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