Hoyt's Opinion February 1, 2006


	Personal Protection Act Fails Again		February 1, 2006

	The Wisconsin Assembly dropped the ball again. I'm disappointed, but not at all surprised. Over the past three years state Senator Dave Zien (R) has proposed two amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution that would have created a permit system for law abiding citizens to carry a concealed weapon on their person. On both occassions the bill passed through the Assembly and Senate but was vetoed by the governor. On both occassions the Senate voted to override the veto but the Assembly did not. This time around two representatives who initially voted for the bill changed their vote resulting in the failure to override. Among other things the latest bill (SB403) would have created: A centralized database of every gun owner who obtains a permit to carry; that list maintained by Wisconsin Department of Justice Excessive fees to obtain a permit to carry (over $200 including the state-mandated training) "No-Carry-Allowed" areas that are off-limits to permit holders who carry a gun for self-defense The "Rogue Cop" amendment, giving law enforcement instant notification that you are a permit holder Expanded NICS checks on all handgun purchases Mandatory re-evaluation and criminal background check every five years prior to reissue of carry permit Article I, Section 25 of the Wisconsin Constitution reads as follows: "The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose". However, Wis. Stat. § 941.23 (2003-04) prohibits the carrying of concealed weapons in this state, a law that dates back 130 years. In 2003 the Wisconsin Supreme Court, in State v. Hamdan, upheld that a private citizen or a business owner has a constitutional right to maintain a concealed weapon while on his or her own property. The Court also encouraged the Wisconsin Legislature to take up this matter before it came before them again. The legislation proposed under SB403 was actually more friendly to gun control lobbiests than it was to the pro-gun movement. Yet the gun control crowd was against it and pro-gunners were for it. Why is that? SB403 bill had nothing to do with a citizens' contitutional right to carry a weapon for security or defense; it had to do with politics, plain and simple. 2006 is an election year and the professional politicians in Madison were once again pandering to their supporters to generate more funds for their campaign coffers - "If you don't re-elect me look what could happen!". You would think that an issue such as this, one that would redefine our State Constitution, would have garnered an opinion from the only political party in the state that bares the name of the document - the Constitution Party of Wisconsin. I thought the silence coming from the organization was deafening, until I was challenged about my support of this legislation. I believe the Constitution Party of Wisconsin did not publically support this piece of legislation because the Constitution doesn't need an amendment to provide for a "right" which is already there. SB403 would have made it a "priviledge", much like your driver's license, to carry a side arm. However, I also believe the Constitution Party of Wisconsin did not speak out against this bill because they understand that the United States Constitution, as well as the Wisconsin Constitution were written for a much different people. In 1817 John Adams wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson stating "Our constitution is made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Our Nation, and our State, are no longer "a moral and religious people". We fund the taking of innocent life with taxpayer dollars and call it freedom of choice. We sanction moral depravity and call it an alternative lifestyle. We even elect to public office those who practice what God Almighty calls an abomination. We've removed our faith from the public square and called it politically correct. This year Mr. Heb Kohl, the anti-gun, pro-gay rights, pro-abortion, U.S. Senator is up for re-election. What will Wisconsin do about that? What will YOU do about that? We don't deserve the rights granted in the Constitution, and we won't until the moral and religious people of these United States of America stand up and speak out against these things. I believe we are the majority and it's time to stop being silent! Maybe Wisconsin will become the 48th state to allow it's citizens the "priviledge" of personal protection. Maybe we'll be the only hold-out of the 50. Only time, and your vote, will tell. And let's not forget Steinbrink (Kenosha) and Van Akkeren (Sheboygan). Those flip-flopper's need to be taught a lesson by their constituents.

	For God and Country,

	Daniel M. Hoyt A guy from Oshkosh (with a list)
			Back to Top \| Archives \| Home
	============================================================= If you enjoy these commentaries and have not already subscribed to the list, click here to be added and you will receive an email notice when a new post is available. If you have subscribed in the past and no longer wish to receive these commentaries then click here to be removed from the list. You will receive one final message confirming your desire to be removed. If you aren't sure how you came to receive this then perhaps someone you know forwarded it to you. Please feel free to forward this message with the SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE info in tact. Always use Bcc: and clean up a message before you forward it. No one likes scrolling through forwards or reading between all the >>> junk. Thank you for your support!