MURSAU STATEMENT ON OPEN, CONCEALED CARRY
Opposes Suspension of Emergency Rules
MADISON – State Representative Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz) made the following statement Tuesday regarding the implementation of his bill legalizing both open and concealed carrying of billy clubs, handguns, knives and tasers in Wisconsin:
“Today should be remembered as the day Wisconsin reinstated the right of its citizens to protect themselves from others who would do them harm,” Mursau said. “It’s no coincidence today is also the day the Wisconsin State Assembly passed a ‘Castle Doctrine’ to protect law abiding citizens from civil suits filed by injured criminals.”
In addition to the legalization of concealed carry with a permit, so now is the open possession of a personal protection weapons without a permit. Everywhere concealed carry is legal in public, so is open possession so long as the person is otherwise not prohibited from possessing the billy club, handgun, knife or taser.
“This law gives the people of Wisconsin reasonable ways to defend themselves,” Mursau said. “Criminals better realize now they can’t assume any individual is unarmed.”
Mursau also applauded Attorney General Van Hollen for implementing the concealed carry permitting process in a manner to prevent unscrupulous trainers from training Wisconsin citizens with erroneous information. He tied his support to his greater goal of passing a constitutional carry system that requires no permits issued by the government at all.
“Constitutional carry’s future is directly tied to the proper training of Wisconsin citizens under the new permit law,” Mursau said. “Fly-by-night trainers put citizens at risk and decrease future chances for constitutional carry.”
However, some legislators on the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules want to suspend Van Hollen’s four hour minimum training standard for people without hunter safety, an honorable military discharge or law enforcement background. Mursau thinks it would be wiser for the legislature to take a more measured approach.
“Suspending part of the rule does not resolve the problem, it only delays a solution until next spring,” Mursau said. “I remain committed to fixing this through either legislation or permanent rules.”