Wisconsin State Legislature Passes Landmark Right-to-Carry Legislation

Both chambers of the Wisconsin state legislature have voted to approve one of the nation's strongest Right-to-Carry license bills, by solid bipartisan margins. Senate Bill 93, which was strongly backed by the National Rifle Association, now goes to Governor Scott Walker for his expected signature. When signed, it will leave Illinois as the only state that provides no way for citizens to carry concealed firearms for self-protection outside their homes or places of business.

"For more than a decade, NRA has fought for Right-to-Carry in Wisconsin. That perseverance and determination has paid off. Today, Wisconsinites are one step closer to being able to defend themselves outside their homes," said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. "Thanks to the actions of a bipartisan majority of state legislators, honest people who choose to get a permit will be less vulnerable to criminal attacks outside their homes. NRA is grateful for the unwavering leadership of Senators Pam Galloway, Rich Zipperer and Neal Kedzie, Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder and Representative Jeffrey Mursauwho fought for the passage of Right-to-Carry in Wisconsin."

Currently, there are 40 Right-to-Carry states: 37 have "shall issue" laws, requiring that carry permits be issued to applicants who meet uniform standards established by the state legislature. Two have fairly-administered discretionary-issue carry permit systems. Vermont respects the right to carry without a permit. Alaska and Arizona have "shall issue" permit systems for permit reciprocity with other states, and have allowed concealed carrying without a permit since 2003 and July 2010, respectively. Wyoming passed a permitless carry law earlier this year that goes into effect in July. Of the 10 non-RTC states, eight have restrictively-administered discretionary-issue systems; Illinois and Wisconsin are currently the only states to have no permit system and generally prohibit carrying. The Wisconsin legislature had twice passed Right-to-Carry bills only to have then-Governor Jim Doyle veto them. The efforts to override Gov. Doyle's vetoes failed by very narrow margins.

Copyright 2011, National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action. This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.