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Ban on Concealed Weapons Stands - Assembly falls 1 vote short of overriding Doyle's Veto, Courtesy of the Associated Press
Taken from the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel Online Website - Originally Posted Feb. 3, 2004
Madison - The state Assembly failed by one vote Tuesday to override the governor's veto of legislation allowing concealed weapons, narrowly upholding Wisconsin's 134 year-old ban on guns, knives and other armaments in public.
The Assembly voted 65-34 to override, falling one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed. The Senate voted Jan. 22 to override the veto, but supporters needed a two-thirds vote in each chamber to overrule the governor.
The Assembly approved the legislation 64-35 last year.
Sponsors have fought for most of the last decade to pass the legislation and thought they had their best chance to make it law this session after Republicans took control of both houses in the Legislature.
But Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, fought the bill with the backing of law enforcement groups across the state and anti-violence organizations.
Sheriffs expressed concerns about provisions that would have them issue the permits to applicants who meet a series of requirements. Applicants would have to be at least 21, Wisconsin residents and have completed an approved firearm training or safety course.
Applicants would be subject to background checks and could be denied a license if they were convicted of a violent crime or other specified offenses. Those who have been found mentally incompetent or chemically dependent also would not be allowed to carry a concealed weapon.
Some sheriffs argued the background checks were burdensome or inadequate. They also complained the maximum $133 permit fee would not cover their costs, and many pledged to opt of the program if it became law.
Wisconsin is one of four states without a law allowing residents with permits to carry concealed weapons.
The state Department of Justice estimated 35,000 people would apply for a permit the year after the bill would take effect.