New carry law in Wisconsin has some side effects

For one, it's helping the economy.

Concealed carry law boosts Green Bay area gun sales

Area firearm instructors and gun dealers are seeing a steady increase in business since the concealed carry bill was signed into law.

Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation July 8 that will allow Wisconsin residents to apply for a permit to carry concealed weapons.

The law doesn't go into effect until November, but John Pratt, owner of Pratt Security and Investigations in Green Bay, said there has been a "marked increase in people wanting training" for handguns.

And I'm sure guns sales throughout the state of Wisconsin have increased as well.

Supporter of 2nd Amendment has a but

"I support the 2nd Amendment, but..." is a line that most politicians use just before the legislation comes along that would inhibit that right.

Rep. Bob Kressig, D-Cedar Falls, is the ranking member of the House Public Safety Committee, which dealt with a lot of the gun legislation. He said he's in favor of Second Amendment rights, but also thought the state needs to "be smart" about how the permits are issued.

His idea of "smart"?

"I think there are some opportunities for improvement in the training," Kressig said.

In other words, more state involvement because there have been a rash of incidents around the state involving permit holders that need to be reigned in because of the irresponsible or illegal behavior.

You read about these incidents in the papers, right?

You can read more at 'Shall issue' gun law sparks surge of new permits

Gun carry permit revoked

Before January, sheriffs had discretion in issuing the permits and could place restrictions on the licenses. With the change, sheriffs are directed to issue permits to applicants who meet training requirements and aren't barred from possessing firearms because of a criminal record or mental health reasons.

"The number of revocations has increased since the new law, and the nature of the types of offenses that have occurred has also increased,"[Sheriff] Thompson said.

He said revocations before the new law were rare and minor.

Gun permit revoked after altercation in parking lot

Numbers, sheriff???

I predicted that each revocation (justified or not) of a carry permit would get media coverage and I'm just not seeing it. Not to say it hasn't happened before this incident, but I haven't heard of a rash of revocations. And there's not enough details in this case to make an informed opinion.

I would say that the carry permit process has been so successful that more county sheriffs' departments are giving classes to compete with the commercial certified instructors that have been giving classes around the state. That brings in another 30-50 bucks on top of the permit fee into the county coffers.

My county sheriff is offering classes now. But he's not one of the critics of the carry law.

Newton Chamber discusses the new gun carry law

During a breakfast of fruit salad, muffins and pastries Jasper County Sheriff Mike Balmer and Newton Police Chief Jeff Hoebelheinrich:

educated the chamber on the rights they have as business owners and the sheriff’s responsibilities pertaining to Iowa Senate File 2379, which allows any Iowa citizen to openly carry a weapon pending a criminal and mental health background check.

After a business owner stated he recognizes the right to carry a gun but was banning guns from his store, Sheriff Balmer replied:

“As a business owner you always have the right to refuse service,” said Balmer. “But responsible people may have been entering your business with a concealed firearm for years, and you’d never have known.”

Other than another reference to the "wild west" (sigh) it seems like this sheriff and police chief informed the business owners of their rights as owners without advocating them to ban guns with a magic sign at their door.

Marion business owners' views on guns

A strong response from one business owner, a city council member is "fine" with all the fuss and another business owner changes her mind.

Watch the video here: More Marion businesses are reacting after the police chief encouraged them to ban weapons.

Friday gun ban proposals

Waterloo passes ban unanimously.

Mitchell County Supervisors say they will pass a resolution (Cerro Gordo and Clinton County already have).

Winnebago County, probably not.

Buena Vista County leaning towards ban but will make their final decision in two weeks.

Bettendorf is considering.

Emmet County is drawing up a resolution.

Johnson County is drawing up a resolution.

Clay, Sac, Lyon and Plymouth Counties passed bans.

(Update) Via Jim at The Travis McGee Reader:
Dickinson County is a "meh", as they couldn't get a second to the motion. (adding Jim to my Iowa Blog list)

And Pleasant Hill is looking to ban on city property.

I missed Spencer's discussion in favor of banning.

These resolutions, ordinances or whatever you want to call them are headed to nearly every county or city board. If you hear of one, let me know in the comments or by email and I'll add it to the list.

Allow gun in schools? Nebraska lawmaker introduces bill

Bill would allow Neb. teachers to carry guns

Under a bill introduced by Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial on Tuesday, certain school staff and faculty certified under state law to carry concealed guns could carry them in their schools. The bill says allowing that would require approval of two-thirds of the school's board.

Why ban guns on county owned property?

Safety and security isn't why. Common sense isn't either.

A Benton County resident takes his county board to task for passing a gun ban ordinance for county-owned property.

Opinion :: The things that are wrong with Benton County's new firearms prohibition

Tuesday gun ban proposals

Vinton doesn't seem interested

Unanimous vote to ban in Clay County

Wright County passed a ban, and Buena Vista County is considering one.

Delaware County passes ban and Dubuque holding a vote (not all supervisors in agreement)

Gun bans in Iowa

Approved:
Benton County

Rejected:
Woodbury County

Considering a ban:
Clinton County

Bremer County

If you all are getting tired of me keeping track of these, let me know.

More gun ban proposals

Iowa City to Consider Gun Ban on City Property

How about Woodbury County?

The attorney general's 2003 opinion.

The attorney general's letter to Burlington.

The law: 724.28 Prohibition of regulation by political subdivisions.

A political subdivision of the state shall not enact an ordinance regulating the ownership, possession, legal transfer, lawful transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms when the ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state. An ordinance regulating firearms in violation of this section existing on or after April 5, 1990, is void.

Heard at the gun show

"These sheriffs need to understand that they swore an oath to the Constitution." - uniformed county deputy.

Maybe this guy will run in the next election.

Can local municipalities restrict carrying of guns?

Iowa Attorney General says so.

Assistant Iowa City Attorney Eric Goers says yes.

Ames City Manager Steve Schainker and City Attorney Doug Marek think so. Despite Shainker's quote: "I don’t think anyone is trying to get involved with people’s rights to bear arms."

Police Chief Brian Guy and City Attorney Jeffrey Farwell want an ordinance.

The law: 724.28 Prohibition of regulation by political subdivisions.

A political subdivision of the state shall not enact an ordinance regulating the ownership, possession, legal transfer, lawful transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms when the ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state. An ordinance regulating firearms in violation of this section existing on or after April 5, 1990, is void.

Passing these types of ordinances will certainly do one thing, get lawyers involved.

Our Attorney General okays local gun ordinances

Most likely in violation of state code:

A political subdivision of the state shall not enact an ordinance regulating the ownership, possession, legal transfer, lawful transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms when the ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state. An ordinance regulating firearms in violation of this section existing on or after April 5, 1990, is void.

Iowa Code Section 724.28

DC Gun Rights Examiner, Mike Stollenwerk recaps our Tom Miller's shenanigans with Miller's recent "opinion" to county attorneys. He basically gave a green light for cities and counties to regulate carrying of weapons on property they own.

I local municipalities enact regulations against carrying concealed or open, the lawsuits will follow. And maybe that's the idea. Miller and his lawyer friends will make a ton of money arguing on either side. The losers will end up being the citizens of the state. We will have to pay lawyers fees, settlement fees, etc and this will take years to settle.

Mike did a good job of looking at Miller's opinion and what it's based on. Head on over and give it a read.

This is news? The new carry law

The first effective date of the new carry law and news reports abound.

Davenport, Mayor On Iowa's New Gun Law, Looking for a ban

Dubuque, Carry on: Gun holders grow, With a convenient link to permit holder names.

Cedar Rapids, New Weapon-Carry Rules Bring Changes, Signs do magically stop people from carrying weapons, you know.

Lee County had 99 applicants on Jan 3rd.

Sioux City, Changes in effect to new Iowa gun laws

The change to Iowa's gun laws streamlines the process to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. That means law enforcers may ask you one more question if you're pulled over.

"Good afternoon, I am Doug Boetger can I see your driver's license and registration please and by the way do you have a concealed weapons permit yes or no if you do sir or ma'am if you are carrying a weapon on you at this time please if you are don't make a reach for it," Doug Boetger, Assistant Chief Deputy Woodbury County Sheriff's office said.

If one replies "no," the officer will relax, but what if the driver is lying? I guess they think only permit holders will carry in a vehicle. What if a driver is "making a reach" for their wallet? I know it's a tough job to patrol the highways, but I wonder sometimes if policies make sense.

And a "civilized" county supervisor says:

George Boykin, Woodbury Supervisor said," Really not in favor of a civilized society with individuals carrying around concealed weapons."

It doesn't mention whether he's in favor of open carrying.

Long lines in Des Moines, Journalists are so funny:

The new accessory for 2011? A pistol on your hip.

More "good guys" armed

Instructor: Law change to put guns with 'good guys'

“I’m glad it got changed,” Darin Oberhart, owner of QCI Firearms Training in Bettendorf, said. “We’re going to have more good guys out there appropriately armed.”

Iowa has "loose" gun laws

A news article mixed with editorial comments, an Austin, MN news station describes Iowa's new carry law as "loose".

"Under the new Iowa Law, we cannot restrict the movement of people with loaded guns in vehicles, wherever they go," says Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals as he and his department prepare for the new law.

As many of you know, this revamping of the permit system came about because sheriffs in some counties put restrictions on the permits. One sheriff in a county north of mine restricted one permit carrier to the point that it was only good while hunting. And you can legally carry a gun while hunting anyway.

Iowa follows Alaska, Arizona, and New Mexico in their adoption of a "Open Carry" gun law. The only regulation sheriffs statewide have are gun restrictions to those who have a criminal history.

Other states have open carry - Wisconsin and Virginia come to mind.

"They can walk their dog at night with a shot gun and there's nothing we can do about it," says Pals.

I wouldn't think about walking my dog while carrying a shotgun, unless I'm hunting pheasants.

After a snide comment regarding having a drink while carrying ("You heard it, you can legally consume alcohol while carrying a gun in public with a permit...") and noting a business can ban carrying by customers, I found this article on the site: Man Pulls Butcher Knife At Bar (Side note - this professional news anchor needs to learn how to spell. For someone who uses words for a living, that's sad.)

It would seem to me that having a weapon to defend oneself at Harold's Bar in Albert Lea would be prudent. But maybe he has a sign telling patrons not to come in armed.