[Note: The Wisconsin State Assembly recently passed, by a 58-40 vote at 3:55 in the morning, legislation that would allow citizens to carry concealed weapons. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage of the somewhat past-midnight special can be found here. The Assembly vote provoked the following exchange between Commentary's Jim Mather and State Representative Terri McCormick (R-Appleton)].

From: James Mather [mailto:mather@vbe.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 12:51 PM
To: Rep.McCormick@legis.state.wi.us
Subject: Guns in Wisconsin

Your vote, apparently without public notice and constituent input, and in virtual secrecy (in the dark of night) is appalling, disgusting, and frightening. The process was flawed at best and bordering on unethical at worst. With respect to the issue itself, it has the very real potential to foment violence (see road rage); we simply do not need to have our citizens toting guns.

For shame!!

James A. Mather
1500 Maricopa Dr.
Oshkosh, WI  54904

Dear James:

Thank you for your input on the Personal Protection Act. As you probably know the bill has gone through 2 - five hour hearings and a vote out of committee. What you probably don't know is that there are strict limitations on who may carry a weapon on their person; individuals must go through a tight background check, go through education and training, be scrutinized through both physical and psychological examination and have their name forwarded to a state registry through the Department of Justice... in short any individual with a weapon on their person will be registered on the files of the police. Those individuals at a high risk, such as money curriers, late night store owners, and other vulnerable individuals would have the ability to go through this process.

The Personal Protection Act is not new. It has been successfully implemented in areas with "high crime" statistics. The results have been overwhelmingly positive. The article in the Post Crescent that highlighted the story of an assembly woman who's parents were killed by burglers in their business underscores the need for law-abiding citizens to have the means of self protection.

Finally, the bill was not brought up by my political party. The bill was brought up by the other side of the aisle in an effort to "get supporters" of the Personal Protection Act in a no vote. Certainly, this back fired - when 75 of 99 representatives from both sides of the aisle voted to pull this motion forward. Once again - this bill had gone through the committee process and was favorably voted on - in a bipartisan fashion. The question is: do law abiding citizens have the right under their 2nd amendment rights to protect themselves and their families from criminals. I voted yes.

Respectfully,

Terri McCormick
State Representative
56th Assembly District
 
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