Led by Alberta Darling, Republicans Push Forward with Extreme Concealed Carry Bill

June 10, 2011 – Ignoring common sense, Wisconsin values and the will of the people, who, by a huge 2 to 1 margin are opposed to the legalization of concealed carry, Senator Alberta Darling and the Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee approved an extreme concealed weapons bill yesterday.

“We are glad that public safety provisions, such as mandating permits, were included, but anything positive about this bill was more than wiped out by the sheer recklessness of the rest of it,” said Jeri Bonavia, Executive Director of Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort. “Senator Darling and the Republicans just approved a measure that even the most staunchly pro-gun states in the country have deemed too risky.”

This legislative session, bills to legalize the carrying of concealed weapons on college campuses were rejected in Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Louisiana. Wisconsin’s bill allows guns on campus.

The bill, expected to be taken up by the full Senate on Tuesday, also allows gun carriers to consume alcohol.

“Other than the NRA-intoxicated legislators who are supporting this bill, does anyone think mixing guns and alcohol is a good idea?” asked Bonavia. “For these legislators to put the public in grave danger in their attempt to please the NRA is unconscionable and disgusting.”

A recent poll conducted by Third Eye Strategies found that by a 2 to 1 margin likely Wisconsin voters will oppose candidates who favor the concealed weapons bill. (Polling results available at: http://www.waveedfund.org/sites/waveedfund.org/files/Statewide%20polling...)

WAVE Educational Fund
Contact: Jeri Bonavia – (414) 510.7594
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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