germantownnow.com
      
Rummage MapseHarmony
weather

65°

Partly Cloudy | 12MPH

NEWSROOM * CIRCULATION * ADVERTISING

Friday

September 2010

3

Home » Blogs » Community Blogs
Community Blogs
Curmudgeon's Corner

cur-mud-geon: anyone who hates hypocrisy and pretense and has the temerity to say so; anyone with the habit of pointing out unpleasant facts in an engaging and humorous manner

Concealed Carry Coming?

By Al Campbell
Feb. 1, 2010  

The Sunday Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial page carried a surprise.  The editorial board indicated that it could/would support concealed carry laws IF…

 

IF tough gun laws were to be enforced as part and parcel of the concealed carry legislation, the JS editorial board said it could/would support the measure.

 

The thinking, right thinking at that, is that gun laws have to be strictly enforced.  When someone is arrested carrying a gun, he or she has to be convicted of a felony.  Period.  The easy plea deals to get something accomplished by throwing out the illegal gun possession charge would be no more.  The person would be prosecuted and no plea deals would wipe away the illegal possession charge. 

 

This is, finally, a huge step in the right direction.  Wisconsin is in a very slim group that does not yet have concealed carry laws in place.  My recollection is that Wisconsin and Illinois are the final two states yet to move in this direction. 

 

The idea that those of us who are upright citizens, who have proved we can properly handle firearms and can be trusted with those weapons are not permitted to be able to defend our persons is offensive.  The citizens of the other states have proved that concealed carry is safe, and that there is a beneficial impact on overall crime rates.

 

Those who would use a gun to commit a crime have no need to worry today because they know none of us potential victims has a gun with which we might defend ourselves or other potential victims.  They would think twice in that new environment

 

We live in a perverse world where only the 'bad guys' are able to carry a concealed gun; and where many, if not most, of them get away with a slap on the wrist for having done so as the result of plea bargaining.

 

It is time for that to change in Wisconsin.  That would be a real legacy for Governor Doyle if he could but find the courage and common sense to step up to that legislative effort.

~~~~~~

The Curmudgeon Blog today is titled "Infrastructure Attacks".

12 Comments

Post a Comment
Sort by: Oldest | Newest | Most Thumbs Up

  1. jwhite27 - Feb 01, 2010 8:29 AM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    Al, you're not getting enough sleep again. When would you ever think Gov. Jimbo could find courage, let alone common sense.

  2. CommonSenseAmoungMen - Feb 01, 2010 11:01 AM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    Common sense would tell you that your argument is ridiculous. To think that you have a right to carry a concealed weapon because you haven't been caught for a crime in the past before is ridiculous. And what is all this felony nonsense, common sense would say that stricter laws do nothing in the way of deterring violence. As a result of this act, more guns will be stolen and more guns will be violently used in "self-defense". Just remember that when you pull a gun on someone in the act of "self-defense" it must be proven that you were threatened otherwise, hello felony. Who cares though really, anyone with common sense would know that America has the highest population of people incarcerated per capita by about 1.5:1 over any other country.

    Hey Al, how about instead of an automatic felony for these thugs we send them to Guantanamo and military tribunals for acts of terror. In all respects, they are terrorists.

  3. GTT - Feb 01, 2010 11:48 AM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    You are flat out wrong Common! this act will not and has not caused more guns to be stolen and more guns to be used violently in "self defence" take a look at the statistics out there! you are completely ignorant on the subject! People that have been trained to conceal carry do not flippantly pull there weapons out on a whim. do some research and look how many people who were leagally carrying have been convicted of a felony for pulling a gun on someone in self defense, and let us know what you find out.....

  4. CommonSenseAmoungMen - Feb 01, 2010 1:10 PM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    Bottom line is that as a result of conceal and carry more firearms discharge. Whether accidental or not, more firearms discharge as a result of more firearms in public. I would be fine with this law if every accidental discharge was a felony as well as non-reasonable self defense acts.

  5. pachanga22 - Feb 01, 2010 1:40 PM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    Common if you had any sense and were the Libertarian that you claim to be you would be all for this. Responsible people carrying concealed have correlated into lower crime rates every where it has been allowed. Get off the Brady’s bunch website and do some real research on the facts. Why does Switzerland have the lowest crime rate? Answer every household has at least one gun. Everywhere concealed carry has been allowed violent crime has dropped. There is no increase in firearms theft, negligent discharge, or guns taken away from people and used against them. Those are all made up lies that the left keeps repeating. RESPONSIBLE people who know the law should be allowed to carry a fire arm if they choose to. All gun laws should be prosecuted; right now many are dropped to plea bargain on another crime. Most drug charges are accompanied with a gun charge, but only the drug charge is prosecuted. So let’s get real and give the citizens of Wisconsin the right to defend themselves if they choose.

  6. CommonSenseAmoungMen - Feb 01, 2010 2:15 PM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    Hmm. Well if lower crime rates is what you're after why not let the ends justify the means? How about we put cameras on every street corner of the US? Or how about we bring back amputation for stealing? It seems as though no one is asking the question, should people be allowed to carry concealed firearms. I am not denying that crime goes down as a result, but at what cost?

  7. GTT - Feb 01, 2010 4:10 PM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    Wow, you are clueless on this subject Common! you really are!

  8. Concerned GT Resident - Feb 01, 2010 6:41 PM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    Cameras on street corners invade privacy, thereby restricting rights, while conceal carry laws do not. Look at the stats, Common. Concealed carry laws actually promote lower gun crime.

  9. pachanga22 - Feb 01, 2010 8:19 PM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    Common, please explain the cost. What does it cost you if carry a concealed firearm?

  10. takeofftheblinders - Feb 02, 2010 8:12 PM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    just because people have the right to conceal a weapon does not mean they'll start shooting everything in sight. but what it does mean is it's MY Right to chose if myself or my family's life is in imediate danger then I have the right to defend. I would much rather take my chances is court after protecting myself or family than stand by thier grave. these liberal gun laws don't seem to be getting through to the criminals yet. How long should we wait? If you don't want the right then it's your right not to carry and take your chances. That's your choice and I won't stand in the way of yopur rights don't stand in the way of mine

  11. takeofftheblinders - Feb 02, 2010 8:14 PM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    just because people have the right to conceal a weapon does not mean they'll start shooting everything in sight. but what it does mean is it's MY Right to chose if myself or my family's life is in imediate danger then I have the right to defend. I would much rather take my chances is court after protecting myself or family than stand by thier grave. these liberal gun laws don't seem to be getting through to the criminals yet. How long should we wait? If you don't want the right then it's your right not to carry and take your chances. That's your choice and I won't stand in the way of yopur rights don't stand in the way of mine

  12. MarineScoutSnip - Feb 04, 2010 8:15 AM

    » Report abuse
    0 0
    0 0
    Wow! I love how people make comments before even educating themselves. First, if Illinois was going to do this there would be intense training and qualifications. This should explain everything:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF_mtxgc4yM&feature=player_embedded
    Second, did you know it is illegal to even show or have an outline (under shirt) if you have a concealed permit? So that means if I was mad and shown someone my weapon that could be a felony. I must PROVE my life was in danger.
    Third, look at the stats, in Cook county there are more gun deaths since the ban. This just means criminals know and will use guns because they know NO ONE can protect themselves.
    It is so funny because everyone thinks if concealed carry happens that everyone will be walking around with guns like gang members. That isn't true. The classes will cost at least 300 dollars, instruction will cost at least 100 dollars plus, then price for back ground check, finger printing, new license. Most will never get this ONLY good and trained citizens.
Sort by: Oldest | Newest | Most Thumbs Up
Post a comment

We encourage your comments but will strive to remove discussion that contains personal attacks, racial slurs, profanity or other inappropriate material as outlined in our guidelines. We post-moderate comments on most content, but may choose to pre-moderate some comments so please be patient if you don't see yours appear right way. We also ask for your help by reporting comments you think are inappropriate.

Please login or register to post a comment.

Logged in as: Characters remaining: 2000
discussion guidelines | terms of use | privacy policy
Post Your Comment
CLASSIFIED
Looking for a used car, a new job or a place to live? Search our interactive online classified ads.

Community Ads: Jobs | Cars | Homes
Rentals | Personals | More

JSOnline Ads: Jobs | Cars | Homes
Rentals | Personals | More
SHOPPING
YAHOO SEARCH