CCW in Wisconsin – again
2nd shot at concealed carry veto override near
State lawmakers could vote as early as this week on overriding Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle’s veto of a bill that would allow people to carry hidden guns and knives.
“I believe the public supports concealed-carry legislation,” said Ed Foral of Green Bay. Fears that the law would spur crime are unwarranted, based on statistics from states that have such legislation, he said.
“I want to see law-abiding responsible adults be able to get a permit,” said Foral, a hunter.
Wisconsin is one of four states that bans concealed weapons, but gun supporters and Republican legislators have been trying to change that for years.
Doyle’s veto of the bill Friday sets up a replay of events two years ago when the Assembly failed by one vote to override his veto of similar concealed-carry legislation.
Here’s hoping.
January 24th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Last I read, the state senat ewas expected to be about two votes short of a veto override
January 24th, 2006 at 1:20 pm
not looking great but still possible.
January 24th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
We have a concealed carry bill up right now here in nebraska (Im a recent transplant from TN). The predictable predictions (how’s that?) of the streets running red with blood are all over the teevee and radio.
I think the same Wisconsin scenario is playing out here — both houses overwhelmingly passing the bill, governer vetoing, not enough votes for an override…
I really hope this thing passes. I feel neekid without my glock ;-(
Here’s Hoping!
January 24th, 2006 at 1:25 pm
Nekkid even
January 24th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Actually, I think the Senate has plenty of votes. It’s the assembly where they’ll fall short.
And again, nobody seems to engage the issue that polls of the general populace do not reflect the support that exists in the legislature. If there were overwhelming support for it in the general populace, the governor would not be able to politically surivive a veto.
January 24th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Evenly divided, IIRC. So, the governor’s veto also doesn’t reflect the will of the people.
January 24th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
No, but it’s closer to actually reflecting it. While it’s true that a majority of Wisconsin residents do not oppose concealed carry, it’s also true that a majority of Wisconsin residents don’t support it, either. Somewhere in the 48’s on both counts, with about 3 or 4 percent undecided, if I’m not mistaken. And that’s in recent non-scientific polls. The scientific polls paint a much more anti-CCW picture.
My guess is that this is a strategic move (and a good one) on Doyle’s part. Just do the math. How many gunnies voted for Doyle the last time he was elected? The vast majority of them probably voted Republican anyway. Given that vetoing the bill is unlikely to lose very many votes for him, and signing the bill would not only not gain him many votes, but probably would cost him votes from his base, this is probably a good strategic move on his part.
And although it’s somewhat outdated, Doyle may be basing his actions on this 2003 poll, in which 69% of those polled oppose legal concealed carry — including a majority of Democrats (77% opposed), Independents (71% opposed), and Republicans (59% opposed). See questions CARRY07 and CARRY08, specifically.
It should also be noted that the Wisconsin Police Chiefs Association opposes concealed carry by a big margin.
If those numbers still come even close to holding, and Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and law enforcement organizations all oppose CCW, then Doyle is indeed acting upon the will of the electorate, and the legislature is ignoring that will in favor of a powerful lobby.
Anyway, if this article is correct, this has a better chance at overriding the veto than I originally anticipated.
January 24th, 2006 at 8:22 pm
I think eventually the three states that are on the edge (kansas, WI, and nebraska) will eventually come around becuase americans as a culture are fairly moblie.
I would think over time, enough people would move in and enough people would move out to make it pretty clear by their vote.