Alphecca: Fast & Furious in Wisconsin

November 30, 2005

Fast & Furious in Wisconsin

Plenty of amendments are being added to the bill to allow concealed-carry in Wisconsin. From the Janesville Gazette:

Police could check whether owners of cars they stop are carrying concealed weapons under a new provision Republicans tucked into a bill that would let Wisconsin residents carry hidden weapons.

Under the provision, officers also could face charges if they draw their own sidearm on motorists simply because they have a concealed carry permit.

The bill's sponsors say the amendment eliminates police lobbying organizations' major hang-ups with the bill while protecting concealed carry permit holders' safety and privacy.

[...]

Under the amendment, whenever an officer runs the registration of a vehicle he stops, a screen would pop up alerting him if the owner has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, said Casey Perry, executive director of the Wisconsin Troopers Association.

"This way we would know before we approach the vehicle," Perry said. "We think it's a safety issue for the people that we stop, as well as the officers. It is major because it's a deal breaker for us."

The bill's creators have insisted the list of permit holders remain secret to ensure criminals don't prey on people who aren't carrying. Police groups say that would put officers in danger.

Under the amendment, an officer who pulls his weapon on a driver, forces them out of the car or makes them lie on the ground simply because they have a concealed carry permit could be found guilty of a misdemeanor, Gunderson said during a news conference Wednesday morning. Any officer caught running registrations just to find out who has permits or disclosing that information publicly also would face a misdemeanor.

First, it is entirely proper that when a cop runs a check on someone that he be informed if the person has a CCW permit. I still maintain, though, that it shouldn't have been the "deal breaker" because cops should always assume that someone is armed.

I do like the bit about punishing cops who intentionally draw their weapons on someone simply because the person stopped has a CCW. Still, a cop can claim anything he wants to get around the charge. Pretty much any jury will buy any excuse a cop gives for abusive or threatening treatment of someone.

If, as one person quoted in the story claims, these new amendments will make the bill "veto proof" then bring them on. Wisconsinites might soon be able to defend themselves away from home.

Posted by Jeff Soyer at November 30, 2005 05:01 PM

Comments

You hardly ever see cops in Canada draw their guns, too much paperwork afterwards.

Posted by: timmy at November 30, 2005 05:32 PM

I disagree with the idea that these databases be hooked up. Too much big-brother-like.

I understand the desire to get CC passed, but it should not be at the expense of other rights.

Posted by: tomWright at November 30, 2005 07:33 PM

Deja Moo: The feeling that you have heard this bullshit before.

Just once, I'd like to hear of sworn officers upholding what they swore to uphold and strip away all the BS.

Posted by: robert at November 30, 2005 09:31 PM

Uhh, so if they run the plates and the registered owner (who is not necessarily the current driver, mind you) doesn't have a CCW, then will they be less alert and vigilant as they approach the car? This seems like a very bad idea to me.

Posted by: Kirk Parker at December 1, 2005 01:17 AM

The idea that CCW permit holders are a danger to police is really pretty illogical. While there will always be bad apples, they are few and far between. Of all people carrying guns in this country, who poses the greatest threat to the life of a police officer, a legally licensed, law-abiding, non-criminal CCW permit holder, or someone with an illegal gun? Humm...

I agree with Kirk. Does this mean that when a registration comes up as not being associated with a CCW holder that a cop will assume that no one in the car is armed? Of course not, so why the database linkage in the first place? What useful information is it going to provide?

All that aside, I'm really happy that there is a possibility of yet another state joining the ranks of those that only partially infringe on their residents Right To Keep And Bear Arms.

Welcome to America, the worst place in the world to live...except all the other places.

(With apologies to Mr. Churchill)

Posted by: Tom at December 1, 2005 07:58 AM

A car carrying a CCW holder is the one the police least need to be concerned about.

Posted by: Ken Summers at December 1, 2005 10:31 AM

and the police are supposed to walk up to a car at a traffic stop and NOT think there is a weapon in there? C'mon! Those cheese eating chuckle monkeys in the Wisconsin legistlature need to wake up. Cops are supposed to naturally assume that someone is armed whenever they pull over a car. It's called training.

I do agree that cops need an alert. Give them that added advantage to do their job more effectively. But I don't see them getting carried away. Proper training like they had in Texas when CHL was passed will prevent just what they are worried most about.

Posted by: shooter at December 1, 2005 10:31 AM

I believe that police organizations have nefarious hidden agendas. How else could they come up with such obvious BS? CCW holders have no criminal record, or else they wouldn't be CCW holders, right? Which is kinda the same qualification to get into cop school.

Posted by: Benson at December 1, 2005 10:43 AM

Way past time to eliminate 3/4 of the BS that cops pull citizens over for. We could live without car registration, liscense plates, inspection stickers, DLs, mandatory insurance, drop most speed limits, et, et. Get the police out of the business of bothering folks as they come and go.

IMPO, Public safety would be about the same and the republic would be MUCH safer.

Posted by: robert at December 2, 2005 03:54 AM

Right, Robert, and revenues generated by all those things will disappear. Good luck.

Posted by: Steve Skubinna at December 5, 2005 01:43 AM

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November 30, 2005

Fast & Furious in Wisconsin

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Check it out:

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Colony: Alchibah