Guns in Wisconsin after McDonald v. Chicago
Defining a Progressive Ideal is easy. Some look no further than this:
Passing a Progressive law that has a chance of survival in today's political environment is a trickier endeavor.
When the fictitious President Shepherd gives his soliloquy to liberalism in “The American President,” the inference is that “civil liberties” include an absolute First Amendment right to burn a flag but a restricted Second Amendment right to bear arms.
As it turns out, none of our civil liberties exist in absolute. Our free speech rights have reasonable limits against things like making threats or inciting public panic. There will always be debates on where to draw the line, but make no mistake – there is a line.
So it goes with all our liberties. Today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling deals a blow to the President Shepherd’s out there who feel we would safer if we could just ban handguns, assault weapons and the carrying of concealed weapons in public. The McDonald v. Chicago ruling (with its all too comon 5-4 split) doesn’t instantly recreate Tombstone in the middle of the Loop, or anywhere else for that matter. It isn’t that absolute, but it does eliminate another absolute: a handgun ban.
Bans are rarely the answer to anything. Reasonable limits that convey common sense are.
Wisconsin does not have a ban on handguns. However, we are one of only two remaining states (along with Illinois) that doesn't have reasonable limits on the carrying of concealed weapons.
The SCOTUS' two recent handgun decisions and its other right-wing activist rulings (like Citizens United v. FEC) should make it clear to all that Wisconsin would be better off writing some limited and sane rules for concealed carry before someone files a lawsuit and there aren’t any rules at all. That would be a very real and now much more likely 180 degree turn from what currently live under.
Don’t doubt for a moment that Wisconsin Republicans aren’t going trot this issue out again. The GOP excels at exploiting a perceived problem to win elections (as noted by the fictitious President Shepherd) by making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it.
Democrats would be wise to embrace the vast majority of legal gun owners who would support reasonable rules on concealed carry that address licensing, training, incremental re-training and re-certification, background checks, fees and revocation for committing crimes. A law with reasonable limits that convey majority sentiment and public safety is a win for Democrats and all of Wisconsin.
Personally, I see no reason why carrying a loaded, concealed weapon in Wisconsin should be any more difficult than say smoking a cigarette in public.
Is it the biggest problem out there? Hell, no! But if the Republicans can’t come up with actual ideas for ending the recession, creating jobs or making taxes more fair for the middle class, why wouldn’t they reach into their old bag of tricks and try to divert voter attention instead?
Watch out! We're being overrun by gay, non-white, illegal aliens who want free health care and they're being protected by those card-carrying ACLU members who want your guns!
We can either face this head on and lead Wisconsin to a common sense solution or we can live in a dream world and rhythmically admire the political acumen of Aaron Sorkin creations.
