Senator Plale: [quoted in full]

In addition, I believe there must be an absolute sobriety requirement while carrying a weapon. I am not opposed to making information available to law enforcement professionals so that they have the most information available when entering a potentially dangerous situation. I do not believe however that it is appropriate or practical to consult neighbors of an applicant for a permit. I think both you and I can understand why the government seeking access to credible information from an applicants neighbors and acquaintances of an individual violates not only certain privacy guarantees, but common sense as well.

As for the way in which DOJ stores data on permits or registers weapons and permit holders, I have worked very closely with AG Lautenschlager on these issues. There are many details of the proposal that would be worked out in the administrative rules process. I pledged to the Attorney General that I would work with her to make the law reasonable to implement and give her and local law enforcement the resources necessary to enforce the restrictions.

Lastly, let me say again. I respectfully disagree with Brady Foundation Analysis of the Hamdan Decision. I have spoken with the Justices that wrote the opinion. While the inconsistency of the ban on concealed weapons and the State Constitution is most pronounced when it comes to the specific circumstances of a business owner in a high crime area, it is an inconsistency none the less. As you said , the Court did not reject a limitation on Concealed Carry it rejected an outright ban, which is current law. I believe the legislation I have supported a reasonably limited right to carry a concealed weapon consistent with what the Court asked for. As for you comment that the Supreme Court did not endorse the legislation I voted for, I’m sure you know the court never endorses or opposes proposed legislation. It would be inappropriate and unethical for them to do so.

This issue will not go away. The legislature had an opportunity under the watchful eye of a Democratic Governor to craft restrictive reasonable legislation that would pre-empt State or Federal Courts or the Federal Government from cramming much less restrictive legislation down our throats. I worry given the political uncertainty of State and Federal government if that is an opportunity we will have in the legislature again.

Interview and Milwaukee Renaissance comments by Bill Sell.
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Milwaukee Renaissance replies:

The incumbent pretends to be opposed to the very bill he works for. This is a clever man out to gut sane rules of gun possession.

He ‘worries’ about the other branches of government changing gun rules while pushing radical changes in gun rules onto the citizens of Wisconsin: “I worry given the political uncertainty of State and Federal government if that [writing concealed carry legislation] is an opportunity we will have in the legislature again.”

Senator Plale who has promoted legislation that will radically change gun law in Wisconsin. He claims to be worried what the Supreme Court or the Federal Government will do that very thing he is doing? How disingenuous is that?

A hothead neighbor can carry a gun around my neighborhood? And Plale is worried?

A picnicking family can be the target of a untracked gun in South Shore Park? And Plale is worried?

He wants a Summerfest, which is wall to wall crowds, drinking beer, and some carrying guns? And the incumbent is worried about the Supreme Court?

He worried about NOT getting concealed carry legislation while he works to gut the concealed carry law we already have. How could his work in the Senate be any more dishonest than that?

Indeed we do have someone to worry about.

How if he will just answer the questions, above in RED.

To: Jeri Bonavia, Executive Director, WAVE Educational Fund
From: Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Legal Action Project
Date: August 17, 2006
Re: S. 403 Shall-Issue CCW Bill

Supporters of the proposed concealed-carry bill, S. 403, are claiming 1) that the Wisconsin Supreme Court created a mandate for the legislature to pass S. 403, and 2) the Supreme Court could strike down Wisconsins current prohibition on carrying of concealed weapons, which would leave the state with no regulatory authority over the carrying of concealed weapons, unless they pass the proposed bill now.

These claims are incorrect. Wisconsins current prohibition on the carrying of concealed weapons has recently been upheld as valid and constitutional. It has been limited by court ruling, but nothing in the Courts ruling, or in Wisconsins Constitution, requires the legislature to pass a new law, and most certainly not the type of shall-issue law being pushed by the gun lobby.

Facts

Wisconsins current law, 941.23, broadly prohibits the carrying of concealed weapons: Any person except a peace officer who goes armed with a concealed and dangerous weapons is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. This statute has been broadly interpreted and consistently upheld by the courts to prohibit the concealed carrying of a weapon, with no exceptions (other than for law enforcement). See State v. Cole, 264 Wis.2d 520 (2003); State v. Nollie, 249 Wis. 2d 538 (2002); State v. Dundon, 226 Wis. 2d 654 (1999).

In 1998, Wisconsin amended its Constitution to recognize a right to keep and bear arms: The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation, or any other lawful purpose. Art. I, Sec. 25.

This year, the gun lobby introduced a bill, S. 403 (and companion A. 763) which, among other things, allows current, retired, and out-of-state law enforcement, as well as anyone licensed by Wisconsin or other states to carry concealed weapons. The bill is a shall-issue bill, which requires the state Department of Justice to issue a concealed-carry permit, valid for five years, if the applicant meets certain minimum criteria.

Analysis

The court case which the gun lobby is pointing to as creating a mandate for passage of the proposed bill is State v. Hamdan, 264 Wis.2d 433 (2003). Hamdan is a shop owner who was convicted under 941.23 for having a concealed weapon in his pocket while working at his shop in 1999. Hamdan argued that the new constitutional amendment invalidated application of 941.23 in certain situations, such as his, where he needed to carry the weapon for security.

The court specifically rejected Hamdans arguments that prior court rulings interpreting the statute should be overturned and it upheld the constitutionality of the statute on its face. See Hamdan at 27, 46. The Court reiterated that Art. I, Sec. 25 does not establish an unfettered right to bear arms and that the state can impose reasonable regulations on weapons, including the general prohibition on carrying concealed weapons. Id. at 41.

Although the Court upheld the prohibition on concealed weapons on its face, it found that the law was unreasonably applied in Hamdans case, and struck the statute down as applied to those facts. The Court took care to explain that it was ruling only that the statute unreasonably impaired the right to keep and bear arms under the facts of Hamdans case where the need for a weapon was substantial because of prior robberies and work in a high-crime area, he could not reasonably keep the gun in the open, and he had no intent to use the gun in a crime. On those facts, the court found that strict application of the CCW statute effectively disallowed the reasonable exercise of Hamdans constitutional right to keep and bear arms for the lawful purpose of security. Id. at 6.

The court went on to superfluously state, in a section of the opinion labeled Commentary, [w]e urge the legislature to thoughtfully examine 941.23 in the wake of the amendment and to consider the possibility of a licensing or permit system for persons who have a good reason to carry a concealed weapon. See Hamdan at 85. First, it should be understood that a court can never create a mandate for a legislature to do anything. The Wisconsin Supreme Court cannot require the legislature to pass a particular bill, or any bill. The Court was only explaining that enforcement of the concealed-carry prohibition, in light of the constitutional amendment, would likely be an issue for law enforcement in future cases and that only the legislature, not the Courts, can amend the statute to prevent any possible conflict. The Court recognized this when it said, [t]he decision over whether to require the permitting of those who wish to carry concealed weapons in any circumstance fully remains with the legislature. Id. at n. 27.

The Court clearly upheld the current concealed-carry prohibition and found it constitutional on its face. The Court did indicate that the statute may be found unconstitutional in other situations where individuals are convicted for carrying weapons on their own property. Id. at 59–68 (while specifically noting that the right to keep and bear arms on ones own property is not absolute - The state retains the ability to regulate gun ownership, use, possession, and transportation of firearms even with respect to matters occurring in ones own home or place of business. Id. at 67 n. 31). But there is no indication that the Court will go further and strike down the statute in other situations.

Second, even if a new statute is desired in order to clarify the issue for law enforcement and the public, that is no reason to pass a shall-issue statute. If the court should go so far as to strike down the current prohibition, the legislature would have an opportunity to pass a new statute at that time. One of the judges even noted that the effective date of the ruling could be stayed, to allow the legislature time to act.

More importantly, a new statute does not have to be, and should not be, a shall-issue law, or even any type of licensing or permitting system. Nothing in Art. I, Sec. 25 requires a licensing or permitting system. Wisconsin may retain its prohibition on carrying concealed weapons, and there is no need to pass the shall-issue bill, S. 403.