Crime & Safety

Shorewood Police Chief Concerned About Concealed Weapon Bills

Banaszynski says training, permits should be part of any legislation.

Shorewood Police Chief David Banaszynski said he hopes state lawmakers make gun training a requirement as debate starts over three proposed laws that would allow residents to carry concealed weapons in Wisconsin.

“I just hope there is some common sense put into it,” Banaszynski said. “The education part and training part is so crucial.”

Law enforcement officials across the state are concerned about two "fast-tracked" proposals by state Rep. Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz) and Sen. Pam Galloway (R-Wausau) that would allow anyone who can lawfully carry a weapon to conceal it, if they're at least 21 years old and purchase a $65 five-year permit.

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“This bill allows just about anyone to carry a loaded gun just about anywhere in public, even though research shows that allowing more people to carry guns in more places will lead to one thing - more tragedies,” Greg Leck, president of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association said in a statement.

Leck echoed Banaszynski's comments, saying neither of the two proposals require anyone carrying a concealed firearm to have training.

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Banaszynski said the training should revolve around when it is time to actually use your weapon.

“If someone steals you bike, you don’t want to shoot at them as they ride away,” he said.

A third proposal by state Rep. Don Pridemore (R-Hartford) unveiled Tuesday would allow those already allowed to carry weapons to conceal them, but it doesn’t include a state permit system. Under Pridemore's proposal, a person would have to undergo two hours of training to be able to carry a concealed weapon.

Banaszynski backs a permit system that would for the most part keep secret the identies of those who are allowed to carry concealed weapons. However, police would be able to gain access to that information under some circumstances.

“It will also put officers who are trained to recognize weapons threats - in harm’s way, not knowing when they are called to a scene how many individuals are carrying loaded guns and who may or may not know how to use their weapons," Leck said of Pridemore's proposal.

However, Pridemore says Wisconsin is only one of two states that don't have a law that protects Second Amendment rights.

“The Second Amendment is a constitutional right and this bill upholds that right,” Pridemore said in a press release Tuesday. “No matter how much misinformation opponents put out, the fact is that people are safer when our right to bear arms is respected."

The public is set to comment at a public Senate hearing Thursday at the University of Wisconsin-Marathon County in Wausau on the three proposals.

The Legislature passed concealed-carrying laws two times before, but both times the bills were vetoed by former Gov. Jim Doyle.


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