FELON Disapproves of Defensive Gun Freedom

Concealed Carry Bill Heads to Walker For Signature
By MARY SPICUZZA

Dylan Fredericks doesn't carry a gun, but he plans to
after Gov. Scott Walker signs into law legislation
making it legal to carry concealed weapons in Wisconsin,
and the employee of PT Firearms in Cross Plains
suspects he's not alone.

But Matt Havighurst of Madison said he doesn't like the bill "at all."

Havighurst, 41, who was playing with his 3-year-old son, Noah,
at the lakeshore at James Madison Park said if the measure passes
the government should send out free signs saying "no guns allowed"
to anyone who doesn't want them on their premises.

"What are you going to do at a park?" he said of such signs.
"Put them all over at every entrance?"

The opposite reactions of Fredericks and Havighurst mirrored those
debated Republicans and Democrats on Tuesday as the concealed
carry bill moved closer to being law.

The GOP-controlled Assembly approved the bill on a bipartisan vote of 68-27.

The Senate backed the bill last week on a 25-8 vote, and the
measure now goes to Gov. Walker, who supports it, for his signature.

Wisconsin would become the 49th state to legalize the carrying
of concealed guns.

The legislation would require those who want to carry concealed
firearms to obtain licenses. It would allow people to carry concealed
weapons in the state Capitol and other public buildings but not places
like police stations and courthouses. Weapons also would be
prohibited in buildings where posted notices bar them, and in
places like Summerfest music festival at Milwaukee's lakefront.

Backers say it will help people protect themselves; detractors worry
that it could escalate tense situations in public.

Last week, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi also unveiled a
proposal late last week that would prohibit people from carrying
concealed guns on county property, such as Henry Vilas Zoo, Dane
County Regional Airport, and the City-County Building.

Also, Mayor Paul Soglin said he plans to enact an ordinance that
would require written permission for gun owners to carry a weapon
on private property in Madison.

Frederick, the gun store employee, said he would boycott businesses
that bar concealed carry.

Concealed carry bills have previously passed the Legislature twice
before, but both times were vetoed by Democratic former Gov. Jim Doyle.

Wisconsin and Illinois are the only states that prohibit concealed weapons.

Despite Frederick's enthusiasm, some gun rights advocates say the
legislation is less than what they hoped for.

"It's not the ideal legislation," said Auric Gold, secretary and founding
member of Wisconsin Carry, Inc. "but it's probably as far as we can
push the cart up the hill at this point."

He and other gun advocates had hoped Republican lawmakers would
pass a "constitutional carry" plan that wouldn't require licenses.

Andre Smith, of Madison, argued "some people are not fit to have
weapons on them." [ the victims ?? ]

Smith, 37, said he is a felon and not
a gun owner, but he worried that some people carrying guns may
react quickly and shoot someone "out of fear, out of reflex."