If The Conceal Carry Bill Becomes Law, What Does That Mean?

If the proposed conceal carry bill becomes law, the only other state in the union not to allow conceal carry would be Illinois. The Senate version of the bill passed this week. The Assembly is set to vote on in the measure either Tuesday or Wednesday.

We came up with a number of questions, researched the Assembly version of the bill (AB 126) and talked to local law enforcement officials about the bill. Here’s what we found:

If passed, what would the conceal carry law do?

The law would:

• create a licensing system under which an individual is permitted to carry a concealed weapon.
• make changes in Wisconsin law to account for a federal law that requires the state to permit an individual who works as or who formerly worked as a federal, state, tribal, or local law enforcement officer in Wisconsin or in any other state to carry a concealed firearm.
• make changes to laws regulating firearms and other weapons.

Can you carry a loaded uncased handgun in a vehicle?

The bill lifts many of the requirements relating to transporting firearms and dangerous weapons if you are a licensee, qualified active duty military or former law enforcement officer you are transporting a handgun in a vehicle. The rules do not apply to airplane travel.

What areas are prohibited areas to conceal carry or even open carry a gun?

Public buildings, this includes jails, police stations, government buildings that screen for weapons, a gun cannot be concealed carry beyond airport security checkpoints.

Also, the bill states:

“A business owner or person in his or her own home may prohibit a licensee from carrying a concealed weapon into the business or home, an employer generally may prohibit an employee from carrying a concealed weapon in the course of the employee's employment, and the state or a local governmental unit may prohibit a licensee from carrying a firearm into a building that is owned, occupied, or controlled by the state or the local governmental unit.”

Where can you conceal carry?

Your own home or place of business or on land that he or she owns, leases, or legally occupies.

What guns and dangerous weapons can be concealed?

You can conceal carry a handgun, an electric weapon, or a knife other than a switchblade, or a billy club.

Who can’t carry a concealed weapon? Convicted felons, people who have been served a temporary restraining order, people convicted of domestic abuse, people who are under the influence of alcohol or elicit drugs, see the bill for more details.

If you used your gun because of a perceived threat, what does that term mean?

Law enforcement personnel are trained to use their weapon in cases of a perceived threat, which includes identifying intent, a weapon and a delivery system.

Mount Pleasant Police Department Captain Brian Smith said department personnel are concerned about people pulling out a gun in situations that could have severe and negative long term consequences.

"Officers are constantly undergoing training for shoot-don't-shoot situations," he said. "We worry about people getting into situations that are clearly over their heads and then lead to legal trouble for using the weapon even if they have a permit to carry it."

Caledonia Police Chief Toby Schey said this is a potential area of concern because it’s unclear if there is a requirement for training on perceived threat.

Sturtevant Police Chief Sean Marschke is also questioning what kind of training will be required. He feels the "When?" or "When not to?" questions are almost more important than safe handling training.

"Police have annual training to retain our gun certification so we're waiting to see what the legislature lays out, but it would be reasonable that recurrent training be required when citizens renew their permits," he said.

Does conceal carry reduce crime?

Sgt. Jonathan Lisowski said the proposed law is patterned after one used in Florida. There, crimes against individuals went down, but property crimes increased.

Smith said residents should also think about the potential for an increase in gun-related accidents and deaths at home.

"Kids get into all sorts of things when parents aren't looking," he pointed out. "How many times do we hear about kids shooting themselves or others because a gun was not properly secured?" 

At the end of the day, Schey said bad people will find ways to get and use guns illegally and good people will abide by the law. With that said, however, he's anxious to find out more details on the training requirements licensees would have. With regards to his officers, they've been doing extra training.