Before the concealed carry bill passed, Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn warned the legislation as drafted would allow the majority of the career criminals his department deals with every day to legally possess weapons.
Flynn told WisPolitics the provisions banning those who are convicted felons or have been judged mentally incompetent leave a significant loophole in the legislation that makes Milwaukee less safe.
That’s because 82 percent of those arrested in Milwaukee for endangering safety with a dangerous weapon are not convicted felons, nor are 88 percent of those arrested for endangering safety, 75 percent of those arrested for robbery, 44 percent for homicide and 34 percent for shooting at an officer.
That means the best solution is to change the legislation, Flynn said. Flynn suggested that could include things like making it illegal for anyone who was charged with a felony but convicted of a misdemeanor from carrying a concealed weapon.
"I don’t want my criminals to get permits to allow them to legally carry," Flynn said.
Earlier, Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. told newscaster Mike Gousha the addition of permitting and training requirements to concealed carry legislation make the bill one he could live with.
Clarke had expressed concern before the legislature regarding “constitutional carry,” which would have required no training or permits.
Clarke said he would like to see it made a felony to carry a concealed weapon outside of the permitting process.
– WisPolitics.com
