Assembly delays concealed weapons bill
Associated Press
Posted: Jan. 27, 2004
Madison - The state Assembly put off voting Tuesday on whether to override the governor's veto of a bill that would let residents carry concealed weapons.
Concealed Weapons Bill
Senate Bill 214: History, text of legislation on concealed weapons
Key provisions
From the Archives
Assembly vote: Debate reaches fever pitch on concealed weapons (1/26/03)
Override: Senate rejects Doyle's veto (1/22/04)
Veto: Doyle's rejection sends bill back to Legislature (11/18/03)
Law enforcement: Many sheriffs would try to opt out of weapons law (11/9/03)
Assembly: Bill passes by 64-35 vote (11/6/03)
National Debate: Weapons laws not matching hype (11/3/03)
Poll: Weapons bill opposed by 69% (11/2/03)
Senate: Bill passes by 24-8 vote (10/24/03)
Opponents complained Republicans were delaying the vote because they did not have the needed votes and wanted more time to pressure lawmakers.
A veto override requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of the Legislature. The Senate voted last week to override the veto, and the Assembly will decide whether the legislation becomes law over the governor's objections.
The Assembly had put the vote on its calendar for Tuesday. But Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) said the chamber could vote on it Thursday instead. He complained of what he said were questionable tactics to sway supporters to vote against the override, without elaborating.
"Today is not the appropriate day to make this into law for a variety of reasons," Gard said.
Democrats complained bitterly that Republicans, who control the chamber, 59-39, with one vacant seat, put off the vote so they could pressure members to vote with them on the override.
"The Republicans do not have the votes to override the governor and they're going to put it off today and maybe take it up Thursday and maybe take it up Tuesday when they have the votes," said Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison).
The Assembly approved the bill, 64-35, last year. The two Republicans who voted against it have said they will vote to override the veto, meaning supporters need all seven Democrats who initially supported the legislation to do so again to get the 66 votes needed.
Sponsors have fought for most of the last decade to pass the legislation that would overturn Wisconsin's 130-year-old ban on concealed weapons. The bill passed both houses last year, but Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed the legislation.
Under the bill, sheriffs could issue permits to applicants who are at least 21, live in Wisconsin and have completed an approved firearm training or safety course.
Applicants would be subject to background checks and could be denied a license if they were convicted of a violent crime or other specified offenses. Those who have been found mentally incompetent or chemically dependent also would not be allowed to carry a concealed weapon.
Wisconsin is one of four states without a law allowing residents with permits to carry concealed weapons.
Doyle spokesman Dan Leistikow questioned what tricks Republicans would use to intimidate lawmakers before they vote.
"The fact that they've delayed shows that they are running scared because the overwhelming majority of the public and the law enforcement community doesn't want this bill to become law," he said.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jan04/202951.asp
Right now there are 7 democrats who are on the verge of supporting the override vote to pass the concealed carry law in wisconsin. There is enormous pressure on these few democrats from the party bosses and the governor to vote the party line and uphold the governors veto on the passage of CCW.
With the exception of the very few democrats in the senate and the few in the assembly who might vote for CCW, I' about as pissed off as I have ever been towards democrats. The little bastards, especially Doyle lie and demogogue to their constituents even though there is overwhelming support in the state for concealed carry. They must feel that because they have their armed body guards to protect them wherever they go, the serfs in the state are just as safe.[:@]
Democrats demogoguing on concealed carry in wisconsin
