> March 1, 2002
>
> Law Enforcement Supports Concealed Carry
> Largest Organizations of Police Support Wisconsin Bill
>
> Wisconsin’s Personal Protection Act has received the support from
> major organizations representing rank-and file law enforcement. The
> Wisconsin membership of the Fraternal Order of Police, the largest law
> enforcement organization in the country, and the Law Enforcement Alliance
of
> America, the second largest law enforcement organization in the country
> support allowing Wisconsin citizens to carry concealed weapons.
> “Licensing citizens to carry concealed weapons has been proven to
> reduce crime and pose little or no risk to law-enforcement,” said Nick
> Segina, spokesperson for the Wisconsin membership of the Fraternal Order
of
> Police, with a membership of over 300,000 nationwide. “Police officers on
> the street know the risks they face come from criminals, not law-abiding
> citizens.”
> “This legislation is well thought-out to ensure the safety of
> citizen and police officers,” Segina added.
> The Personal Protection Act (PPA), as passed by the Wisconsin State
> Assembly, would allow law-abiding citizens to receive a license to carry a
> concealed weapon after passing a criminal background check and completing
> firearms safety training. Licensees would not be allowed to carry in
> certain places, such as schools and taverns.
> “We developed this legislation to protect all citizens from crime,
> that includes law enforcement officers,” said Senate Author Dave Zien.
“We
> are humbled to have the support of the heroes who dedicate themselves to
> protecting their communities from crime.”
> Attorney General James Doyle recently suggested that law enforcement
> opposes the Personal Protection Act, based on the position of some chiefs
of
> police. Kevin Watson, spokesman for the Law Enforcement Alliance of
> America, which represents over 65,000 law enforcement members and
supporters
> nationwide, disputes this view.
> “The idea that law enforcement is universally opposed to concealed
> carry is absolutely false,” said Watson. “When law enforcement sees that
> there are no problems with law-abiding permit holders, they universally
> support it.”
> Some have argued that this law will force police to treat everyone
> as if they are armed. Segina points out that officers are already trained
> to treat everyone as if they are armed. “We consider everyone armed and
> dangerous. It would be foolish on our part not to,” he says. “In any
> instance that we interact with anyone in the public, we must protect
> ourselves and be aware of anything that could cause harm to us or the
> public.”
> Watson agrees, adding facts from the 44 states with experience in
> permitting citizens to carry concealed weapons, “Nationally, no permit
> holder has ever killed a police officer, but there have been many
instances
> where a permit holder has helped to apprehend a cop-killer, or has aided a
> police officer in distress.”
> The legislation, Assembly Bill 675/Senate Bill 357 has passed the
> Assembly and will have a Senate Hearing in Chippewa Falls March 9.
>
> (For more updates check our website:
> http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/sen23/news>