Concealed Carry Legislation

Senate Bill 403 and Assembly Bill 763

Testimony Before the  Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy and  Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Homeland Security

Prepared by:
Paula Simon, Executive Director, Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations
Michael Blumenfeld, Executive Director, Wisconsin Jewish Conference
Wednesday, November 2, 2005

The Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations, which represents 29 local Jewish organizations, agencies, and synagogues, along with our statewide partner, the Wisconsin Jewish Conference, strongly oppose passage of Senate Bill 403 and Assembly Bill 763, which would expand the ability to carry concealed weapons in Wisconsin.

We join with other members of the faith community in our concern about SB 403 and AB 763. Our Jewish tradition encourages peaceful pursuit of our mutual welfare. Isaiah exhorts the people of the earth to “beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.” (Isaiah 2:4) We are commanded to turn weapons of destruction into tools for the greater good of society.

We are especially concerned that the proposed law allows concealed weapons to be carried in day care centers, hospitals and clinics, social services agencies, and other agencies serving vulnerable populations, as well as in houses of worship. Security issues are an ongoing concern for Jewish community institutions. We believe that passage of SB 403 and AB 763 will pose further security concerns for synagogues, Jewish day care centers, the Jewish Community Center, Jewish social service agencies, and other Jewish agencies as they would, under the provisions of this proposal which make prohibiting weapons on one’s own property very difficult, have to allow concealed weapons on their premises.

We share the concern of other faith groups that carrying concealed weapons will increase the level of violence in Wisconsin, and will also put law enforcement personnel at risk. We support current Wisconsin law as ruled by the State Supreme Court which recognizes that people have a right to protect their own home and business, and permits individuals to carry concealed weapons in their own home and business, but oppose the proposed expansion in SB 403 and AB 763.