Dead Man Lobbying

Nice catch by Bitter.

Did you know that Freeland Borough, PA’s Mayor Tim Martin died from esophageal cancer on September 2, 2010? Yet, amazingly, Mike Bloomberg’s anti-gun coalition still claims him as a member on their website as of November 8, 2011.

In fact, not only do they claim him as a member, but the deceased mayor has signed his name to at least two advertisements, three letters to Congress, and one letter to the President sent by Michael Bloomberg’s office. Now, just how on earth is Bloomberg getting a dead man to sign his letters? And why are media outlets running advertisements that are clearly fraudulent?

Entering without a bang

My column for the

Daily News

is online. It’s called, “Entering without a bang.”

Police Siezing Guns

This is one of those stunning areas where the police routinely abuse people’s rights.

Most people land in Milwaukee County’s “gun court” as defendants, charged with carrying a concealed firearm, being a felon with a gun or using one in a reckless manner.

But once a month, people appear on their own accord to ask the judge for help getting guns back from police, who in their effort to keep dangerous weapons off the streets might seize any and all guns in certain situations and sort out the details later.

A gun’s lawful owner may not be convicted, charged or even involved, such as when someone in their household uses it when they’re away. Or the gun may have been confiscated during the owner’s arrest for an offense that didn’t involve the gun and results in a citation or misdemeanor conviction that still allows them to possess a firearm.

Their cases highlight the increasingly delicate balance between law enforcement, safety and gun rights, one likely to become even trickier as Wisconsin residents begin legally carrying concealed weapons.

About 20 such petitioners pleaded their cases in October:

A Glendale woman wanted the gun her husband had used to commit suicide. A Milwaukee man, not charged with any crime, said police had not only his guns but cash and papers they took from a safe during an April search of his house.

A Milwaukee woman said police took her handgun after responding to a domestic dispute, even though the gun wasn’t used. One guy said police had kept his shotgun, which his former girlfriend fired through the floor of her upper unit when he wasn’t around.

One man had shot at a burglar outside his house. One had his gun stolen by his son, who was later convicted of using it in a crime. A Greenfield man said he was supposed to get his gun back after his divorce was finalized, but accused police of stalling.

Over the objections of a prosecutor but citing state law, Circuit Judge Charles F. Kahn Jr. ordered many of the guns returned, though he strongly urged every petitioner to get rid of them anyway.

“It’s not a good idea, and absolutely not necessary, to have a gun,” he told the crowded courtroom, acknowledging the assembled group wasn’t likely to embrace his recommendation.

I understand the necessity of the police siezing all guns around some sort of incident or as possible evidence in an investigation. But when the situation has passed, the investigation is complete, or the trial is over, the guns should be returned to their rightful owner. Anything short of that is the illegal siezure of private property without due process. It’s unconstitutional and immoral. Yet the police have done it for years and people have to fight like crazy just to force the police to obey the law. It’s an intolerable abuse that should end.

Wisconsin Banks Handling Concealed Carry in Stride

Good for them.

In a sampling of the largest banks with branches in Wisconsin, only one - U.S. Bank - said for certain it doesn’t allow weapons to be carried into its facilities. But U.S. Bank spokeswoman Amy Frantti also said the bank does not plan to post signs prohibiting weapons. M&I Bank and Harris Bank, both owned by BMO Financial Group, haven’t decided yet.

The Wisconsin Bankers Association has laid out for its members the pros and cons of banning weapons, but hasn’t suggested which course to take.

“I think, without question, all banks would prefer people do not come into the financial institution with a gun. There really is no business purpose for one in a bank,” said Rose Oswald Poels, chief executive of the bankers association. “And it, unfortunately, can legitimately frighten the employees at the bank as well as any possible customers who might happen to see it, just given that obviously it is a place where robberies do occur on occasion.”

Green Bay-based Associated, the largest bank headquartered in Wisconsin, while recommending its customers refrain from bringing a weapon into the bank lobby, won’t make them do so.

If a weapon is concealed, it shouldn’t attract attention anyhow, Purtell said.

“That’s what I’m really hoping for - that this is a nonevent,” he said.

That’s what Jim Podewils, president of West Bend-based Westbury Bank, is hoping for, too. His bank will allow people to carry concealed weapons into branches. He noted that Wisconsin is the 49th state with a concealed weapons law and it doesn’t appear to have caused problems elsewhere.

A bank that posts a no-weapons notice then has the responsibility for enforcing it, and that’s not a position he wants to put his employees in as a part of their job, Podewils said.

“You increase the possibility of confrontation by posting anything,” Podewils said.

Stunningly Bad CCW Reporting

Wow.

BELOIT (WIFR)—Illinois is now the only state that doesn’t allow concealed carry. This after the law took effect in Wisconsin today.

Today we stopped by a gun store up north and asked people about what’s changing.

We visited Addie’s Gun Shop this afternoon in Janesville, Wisconsin and it was very busy!

Many customers filtered in and out showing their gun permits, looking to buy a hand gun. Some customers were even picking up guns they had ordered six months ago.

The concealed carry law now allows anyone over 21 to carry a gun in the State of Wisconsin. By law, a person must have a permit to buy a gun. If they choose to carry the gun they must also carry their permit.

In order to obtain a gun permit, there are a series of steps a person must take including a background check, and anyone with a felony is denied. Police are already preparing for some differences in handling those with a weapon.

Um, NOBODY was “showing their gun permits” because none have even been mailed yet. And no, you do NOT need permit to buy a gun.

Such. Bad. Reporting.

CCW Permits Heading Out the Door

Who will get permit #1?

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has announced the Department of Justice (DOJ) already has started to issue concealed carry licenses to qualified applicants today, the first day permitted under Act 35.

As of approximately 3:45 p.m., more than 120 licenses have been issued to qualified applicants.  Almost 150 applications have been received by the DOJ at the Attorney General’s Capitol office, where applications have been made available and have been dropped off by visitors.

Of the applications received today, almost 90 licenses already have been printed at the DOJ and have been prepared for mailing.

Concealed Carry Here Today

I have my application ready to do. You can get yours here. I did learn that my old Texas CCW license has an anti-copy coating on it, so be advised if you plan to use one as your proof of training. Good thing I have my Hunter Safety as a backup.

It’s an easy process. My one disappointment is that there wasn’t a place to put a phone number or email address. That means that if there are any problems with the application, it will have to be resolved via snail mail. That will take some time. So check the application thrice!

UPDATE: Wow.

On the first day of Wisconsin’s concealed carry law, more than 80,000 application forms have been downloaded and the Department of Justice’s website has gotten hundreds of thousands of hits.

The state expects to start issuing concealed carry permits later Tuesday afternoon, according to Department of Justice spokeswoman Dana Brueck. Since the permits will be mailed, it will take a few days for applicants to receive them.

I’m a bit surprised that they plan to start issuing permits that soon. Granted, the background check and training verification should only take a few seconds, but I figured they’d process them more slowly. Good for them for getting at it.

DOA Working on CC Rules

I’m not sure about this.

Wisconsin’s new concealed carry statutes go into effect Tuesday. People who have gone through firearms training can begin applying for permits that day. The law contains a number of prohibitions on where people can actually carry weapons, however, including schools, police stations, mental institutions, prisons and court houses. Walker’s administration has been pushing to craft a policy for state facilities ahead of Tuesday.

The policy adds only a few additional restrictions that aren’t already included in the concealed carry law, such as banning weapons in portions of buildings where a discharge might cause a chemical reaction or explosion and any Department of Corrections or state public defender buildings that provide services to people with criminal histories or who have been accused of crimes.

I’ll have to look through the law again, but I don’t recall a provision in there where they can modify the restrictions. I believe they can only allow or deny people to carry a concealed weapon in the building as a whole. I didn’t think they could have different rules for different portions of buildings.

Guns in the Gallery

Well, they almost got it right.

Madison - Members of the public will be able to carry guns when they observe the state Assembly, but not the Senate, under differing rules the two GOP-led houses are developing for separate parts of the Capitol.

[...]

Ellis and Fitzgerald - the two top leaders in the Senate - defended their decision to treat the viewing galleries differently than other parts of the Capitol. They said that while the Senate is in session, members of the public are already barred from certain activities in the balconies, such as filming proceedings.

“It’s a unique part of the Capitol,” Scott Fitzgerald said. “It’s got a long list of prohibitions that’s been in place for many years.”

There’s really no rational reason for many of the rules in the gallery. As long as people aren’t disrupting the proceedings, what interest does government have in restricting rights?

Updates on Concealed Carry In Wisconsin

The Department of Justice has updated their website with more information. It looks like applications won’t be available for download until 11/1.

Quality Education

Banning CCW On Buses

Looks like Madison and some other cities are planning on breaking the law.

Wisconsin’s new concealed carry law should not affect Metro Transit’s policy prohibiting guns on city buses, an assistant city attorney said Wednesday.

“We don’t believe the new law affects buses,” said Marci Paulsen.

“The municipalities that we’ve heard from are in agreement that it doesn’t impact buses,” Paulsen said.

She said Eau Claire and De Pere were the municipalities she was aware of that were in agreement.

City Council members will be asked to approve a measure Tuesday authorizing signs to be posted in all city-owned buildings prohibiting firearms, Paulsen said.

Signs also would be posted prohibiting the carrying of guns and other weapons in bus shelters and transfer points, she said.

Except that the law doesn’t allow the city to ban guns on buses. It allows them to prohibit carrying a concealed weapon in city buildings (I’d argue whether a bus shelter qualifies as a “building”), but buses aren’t buildings. Even Milwaukee County got that right.

If you’d like to go through the law itself, here’s a link to it.

Attorney General Holder Subpoenaed

Good. Let’s get to the bottom of this.

Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sent a subpoena Wednesday to Attorney General Eric Holder as part of his investigation into the gun trafficking operation known as “Fast and Furious.”

“Top Justice Department officials, including Attorney General Holder, know more about Operation Fast and Furious than they have publicly acknowledged,” the California Republican said in a statement. “The documents this subpoena demands will provide answers to questions that Justice officials have tried to avoid since this investigation began eight months ago. It’s time we know the whole truth.”

The subpoena seeks, among other things, all communications regarding the operation from 16 top Justice officials, including Holder, his chief of staff, Gary Grindler, and the head of the department’s criminal division, Lanny Breuer,  as well as correspondence on specific dates to and from the former head of the ATF’s Phoenix field division, William Newell.

It also asks for all documents and communications referring or relating to the murder of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agent Jaime Zapata, including any correspondence outlining the details of Zapata’s mission at the time he was murdered.

Obama Stands By Holder

Ummmm...

Today President Obama defended Holder after a question from ABC’s Jake Tapper.

“– I have complete confidence in Attorney General Holder in how he handles his office,” the president said. “He has been very aggressive in going after gun-running and cash transactions that are going to these transnational drug cartels in Mexico…  I think both he and I would have been very unhappy if somebody had suggested that guns were allowed to pass through that could have been prevented by the United States of America.”

Apparently Obama wouldn’t be upset if guns were allowed to pass through to the drug cartels by his Administration. In fact, that’s exactly what happened. Intentionally. No, Obama would only get upset if somebody “suggested” that his administration did what they actually did.

Sounds more like a veiled threat to the media than actual concern about the people who were killed (and will be killed) with guns his administration intentionally let be sold to the drug cartels.

NRA Concerned about Wisconsin’s AG

Someone (me) was writing about this a while ago.

A top official with the National Rifle Association sent Wisconsin’s pro-gun attorney general a sharply worded letter Wednesday over how he is interpreting the state’s new law allowing people to carry concealed weapons.

The letter to Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said the NRA’s primary concern is that his Department of Justice will require training courses for concealed weapons to last at least four hours and include hands-on firearms training.

“We are frankly disappointed with the grudging attitude (the Department of Justice) has taken toward this law,” says the letter from Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action.

“We understand DOJ’s desire to be deliberate in implementing this new law, and we stand ready to help. Nevertheless, we are increasingly concerned that we are at odds with DOJ in this regard, rather than working together as we would strongly prefer.”

There’s really no excuse for the DOJ’s feet dragging on this issue and it’s good that the NRA is pointing it out. Van Hollen… what the heck is going on with your department?