What is it that makes the words "concealed carry license" so magical? Magical in the sense that they unleash such passions of support or passions of disfavor. Passions that cause both sides of the issue to become tunneled visioned so that no one takes time to do proper evaluation of the issue.
Since Nov. 1, 2011 approximately 90,000 concealed carry licenses have been issued by the DoJ. Presuming there are 3.5 million people in Wisconsin of gun carrying age the 90,000 represents 2.5% of the population. On the other hand each year Wisconsin sells nearly 750,000 hunting licenses. Gun deer hunting alone accounts for 600,000 plus. Adding bear licenses, small game licenses, turkey licenses to that count certainly raises the total to 750,000 plus, even accounting for multiple licenses per hunter. That means 21% of the population purchase hunting licenses that allows them to carry loaded firearms throughout the lands and woods of Wisconsin. Licenses that don't require a background check before issuance. In fact the purchase of which is encouraged by the State.
The Wisconsin hunting season is not just one week in November. It starts mid September and for one species or another extends through Spring turkey hunting near mid May. Why is it that for eight months out of the year up to 21% of the population can be trusted to carry a firearm in public for the purpose of hunting, yet the antis and law enforcement want to criminalize the 2.5% that wish to carry a concealed firearm for security and defense? Article I section 25 reads "The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose". In the eyes of section 25 all those activities are equal.
I repeat: If 21% of the population is trustworthy enough to carry loaded firearms for hunting throughout the state without mandate of a background check, why is 2.5% of the population not trustworthy enough to carry a firearm for security and defense? Especially when a license to do so requires mandated training, a background check and scrutiny by the DoJ. Too me it defies logic. The answer of course is politics and pursuit of a self centered agenda. It wouldn't surprise me if many of the anti personal protection people aren't themselves hunters. Maybe even Flynn himself.
Too me 90,000 law abiding persons carrying concealed weapons scattered throughout a population of 3.5 million hardly presents a statewide problem.
My opinion.