Concealed carry hits 100,000 on permits

Member **Founders Club** Joined: Mar 01, 2010 Posts: 322

C/P Green bay Press Gazette 4/2/2012

Concealed carry hits 100,000 on permits
Van Hollen: New state law hasn't led to 'doomsday'

MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said Friday he doesn't know whether Wisconsin is any more or less safe now that 100,000 permits have been issued allowing people to carry concealed weapons.

But Van Hollen, speaking inside the state Department of Justice room where the permits are printed, said no problems have been reported since the law went into effect six months ago, refuting arguments made by "doomsday people" concerned about legalizing the carrying of concealed weapons.

Van Hollen, who holds the first permit issued by the state, said he firmly believes that people ought to be able to defend themselves and the law empowers law-abiding citizens. But he said it may be impossible to know whether the new law has deterred any crimes from occurring.

"I don't know that it's safer and I don't know that it's less safe," he said when asked about the impact of the law that went into effect in November.

He praised the Department of Justice for being able to handle what initially was overwhelming demand for the permits. The department initially hired extra staff and moved dozens of administrative workers from elsewhere in the agency to help process the applications. The rush has since slowed from thousands of applications a day to hundreds.

The agency had estimated 125,000 permits would be issued in the first year, but issued the 100,000th one Friday.

The agency also has been overwhelmed with calls to its handgun hot line since the law took effect. Gun dealers call the hot line to initiate background checks on buyers, which must be done within 48 hours. There were nearly 16,000 hot line calls in February alone.

Van Hollen said the demand for permits has been strong. The agency anticipated 125,000 would be issued in the first year but it's nearly reached that after just six months.

Wisconsin became the 49th state to legalize concealed weapons after Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill into law passed last year by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Illinois is the only state without such a law.

Lieutenant Joined: Nov 12, 2009 Posts: 2429

it makes illinois suck that much more.

why do you guys keep making bets with us with the sports team? it's not like there is anything we have that you could possibly want

Member **Founders Club** Joined: Mar 01, 2010 Posts: 322

Chicago Honey Bears??