Wisconsin Governor

[Badger1]

Wisconsin Governor, Jim Doyle, today will veto the conceal and carry bill recently past by the republicans! Surrounded by police from all over the state, to show support not protection, he will sign off on it today. What a great state. Two democratic US Senators and a Dem Gov, who else can claim that?

[BayCityProgressive]

1. Well

My state of Michigan can :D ! We have Senator's Levin and Stabenow, and Jennifer Granholm as our Governor. She recently vetoed the late term abortion ammendment passed by the Republican legislature here. However, I have heard a lot of people complain about her because of all her budget cuts. Engler put us in this mess and the Republican legislature would never raise taxes yet everyone blames Granholm.

[Badger1]

3. Neighbors

I guess thats why we are neighbors.

[jhfenton]

2. Governor Doyle

If Gov. Doyle was smart, he'd sign the bill and let Wisconsin joined the sensible majority of states. The bill was passed by legislature with both Republican and Democratic votes, and an override of the governor's veto is likely in one chamber and possible in the other.

There are only five states which still have no provision for law-abiding citizens to carry the means for self-defense. It's time for Wisconsin, Ohio, Nebraska, Kansas, and Illinois to join the other 45.

Of course, in Ohio, it's the Republican governor who's threatening to veto a bipartisan concealed carry bill. So this isn't about parties.

[RetroLounge]

5. Gov. Doyle IS smart.

He was the Atty Gen., not some politician with no idea of what goes on in the courts.

So are those other 45 states now crime-free?

[jhfenton]

8. They're doing better.

Our neighbor to the north, Michigan, for the last two years has seen its crime rate drop below Ohio's, for the first time in over 40 years. Michigan passed a concealed carry law in 2000. Ohio continues to have concealed carry laws stopped by Republican governors. First it was Voinovich. Now it's Taft.

If you want specifics, according to the 2002 FBI Uniform Crime Report, in the three years since Michigan passed its CCW law, its crime rate has dropped 10.5%. In the same period, Ohio's crime rate has risen 5%. Rape and murder saw double-digit increases in Ohio. They were unchanged or slightly lower in Michigan.

[sybylla]

16. There is nothing sensible about this concealed carry bill

And my mama always said just because your neighbor jumped off a bridge does that mean you ought to do it too?

To each state its own, I say. This isn't wanted by the people, it should die a quiet death at the hands of Gov. Doyle.

[RetroLounge]

4. The repugs here will try to use this against him.

Just like the so-called "defense" of marriage act he vetoed.

They really don't care about the bill, just the political hay they get from it.

and yes, after 14 years of Repug Hell with Thompson and McCallum as Govs, it's a breath of fresh air to have a Dem in Madison.

and by the way, I think Illinois has 2 Dem Senators and a Dem Gov now, too. Anyone from down south, Illinois way, that can confirm this?

[BayCityProgressive]

6. I thought Illinois

had Fitzgerald?

[RetroLounge]

7. Ah, that's right, Fitzgerald, who is NOT running again.

so the Dems may pick up the 2nd senate seat there too.

Thanks!

[madrchsod]

9. one repug senator

but he`s quiting this election. the rest is all democrat. there`s no way in hell il. will ever pass a gun law like this,even the repubs aren`t stupid enough to bring this up. concealed guns are a big problem now in this state let alone make it legal. il. should be all democrat after the next election.

[BayCityProgressive]

10. I think the Senate

races next year will be interesting. We have four seats in the South that I think will be competitive, we will pick up Illinois, and Alaska could get interesting as well. Heres hoping for a Dem majority or at least a 50/50 legislature along with a Dem President. If we can't get the Senate to go Democrat, a Dem President can't really do much.

[jhfenton]

11. I agree that Illinois will be the last state to pass such a law.

"concealed guns are a big problem now in this state"

Did you really stop and think about what you just said? You're right, the criminals already ignore the law. How does that help?

Fortunately for me, I work in KY and can carry every day.

2 states -- no permit required (AK, VT)
34 states -- "shall" issue CCW permits
9 states -- limited issue CCW permits
5 states -- no CCW permits

WI, NE, and OH have all come close to passing CCW laws this year. KS is considering one now. Illinois should get with the program. Come on, jump in, the water's nice.

[BayCityProgressive]

12. Everyone thinks carrying a gun makes them so safe

yet most shots fired end up hitting an unintended victim when guns are kept in the home. That being said I think if you have a clean record and have a reason to carry one, like a stalker ex husband ect. you should be allowed. I think guns are like cars. Thousands die in car accidents so we regulate the public's use of cars. The same should go for guns.

[jhfenton]

13. Why thank you.

"That being said I think if you have a clean record and have a reason to carry one, like a stalker ex husband ect. you should be allowed."

Why thank you. If I have a good enough reason that meets your approval, then I can carry a firearm. Thank you very much. I think my safety and the safety of my family is a good enough reason, thank you very much.

I agree that carrying a firearm is a big responsibility. That's why I've had over 40 hours of advanced training in the last two years. That's why I compete in self-defense oriented handgun shooting competitions. That's why I practice at the range on a regular basis. That's why I am an NRA-certified instructor in Basic Pistol, Basic Rifle, Basic Shotgun, and Personal Protection in the home -- so I can teach others.

The facts, however, are that licensed concealed carry holders have much better records that police officers do. I'm not aware of a single incident in which a CCW permit holder has shot an innocent bystander in a public place. There may be one out there, but it's not a major problem.

[BayCityProgressive]

14. Yes

I said handgun use should be regulated like anything else. You you have training/registration and haven't robbed a bank or shot someone in the past than go for it.

[jhfenton]

15. OK. I can live with that.

I just object to the idea that in addition to a clean record and training one would have to have a "good reason" to receive a permit. That is essentially the law in the 9 "may issue" states (CA, NY, MD, DE, HI, NJ, IA, RI, MA). It varies from state to state and even county to county what constitutes a "good reason." It puts excessive and arbitrary power in the hands of bureaucrats. That is never a good thing.