Cayugad,
I personally feel that there is not much difference between a law abiding person who does not have a criminal history and a police officer carrying guns.
Both follow the laws that govern them.
The issue is that up till now, the only people allowed to carry guns are cops and criminals. Criminals could care less if the law says they can's carry.
Permit holders could carry guns in taverns and other places that sell alcohol, provided they were not drinking.
Provided the permit holder is not drinking, I have no problem with it... If a permit holder who is carrying does drink in a tavern and thats against the rules he will risk loosing his/her permit for life.
Should a past OWI have a bearing on ones ability to obtain a permit?
If OWI becomes a felony... Yes. Otherwise not unless there is a gun crime or felony.
I can assure you, any time that CCW is in my possession, I will be sober.
I can assure you the same.. As I believe most CCW holders can.
What about the person that is armed. Parks his car, walks to the store and claims he does not see the sign restricting him from the CCW restrictions. What should be done in this case? Notice is says, the business if posted is free of "legal liability" should an incident occur. So if someone lets say is robbing the 7-11 you are in, and you draw down on them and a gun battle occurs. In that battle, the perpetrator shoots and kills an innocent bystander. And let me point out. You did not shoot the bystander. But your actions did cause the gun battle. Are you liable?
This is not anything new... We are the second from last state that is allowing concealed carry. Look at the facts. I looked at a few cases where people had guns in gun free places. In one case a woman forgot to remove her handgun from her purse and went to the post office. No guns allowed in that state in a federal building. When she got her check book out someone saw the gun and called police. She lost her permit permanently.
Every place across the country where they have allowed CCW its gotten safer. Guns don't jump out of pockets and shoot people. Criminals kill people. Not guns. Guns are just tools. Being in law enforcement you should know that if someone wants to kill somebody no law will stop them, and not having immediate access to a gun will stop them. However, an armed law biding citizen just might.
Do you feel it should me mandatory that in the event you are stopped by any law enforcement personal for any reason that you are required to tell them you are armed, and where such weapon is located? Perhaps this is a provision.
I would be ok with that...
So if someone lets say is robbing the 7-11 you are in, and you draw down on them and a gun battle occurs. In that battle, the perpetrator shoots and kills an innocent bystander. And let me point out. You did not shoot the bystander. But your actions did cause the gun battle. Are you liable?
I would say yes... The CCW permit if for life defense, and more so for self defense. Not so much to protect the local 7-11 from loosing $200. If a person chooses to pull his gun to do something other than protect his or someone else's life they will likely have legal issues if anyone gets hurt.
CCW is meant for defense, not for crime intervention.
In summery, the decision to carry is a personal one. But with that decision are many responsibilities that the carrier must understand, face, and be accountable for. There are places I would like to have a CCW, like in my car, or when I go for a walk. But I can not stress enough the need to know when to shoot and not to shoot. Also you might want to consider a very safe place to keep that weapon when you are not going to carry. Cars are broken into all the time. Is your weapon going to be secure? Believe me, under the front seat is a poor place to hide a weapon. Homes while safe, have dangers more so with the occupants we live with. Do you have a safe place for that loaded weapon?
I agree Wisconsin needed this law. And I fully intend to carry. I've done it safely for years. But if you have any doubts while armed that you might not want to engage an attacker, then please listen to your gut feelings. Its better to scare someone off then to shoot them. That criminal element will surface and be caught another day. Last thing and then I will end this rant... if you have any doubts (and believe me I have seen trained brave people freeze up) that you can not pull that trigger and take someone's life, then do not carry. Its not a toy to be pulled to scare someone away. Or to even threaten with. By the implementation of the CCW law, you are telling the public that you are ready to take someone's life.
Agreed.