County Board shows 2-1 support for concealed-carry

By Pete Wicklund

Friday, October 24, 2003 12:58 AM CDT

IVES GROVE - With the state Senate debating the merits of the proposed concealed-carry gun legislation at the same time, the Racine County Board's Thursday vote on a resolution supporting the effort may have little impact. Nonetheless, county supervisors on either side of the issue showed how strongly they feel about the matter.

The County Board voted 13-7 to support Racine Supervisor Van Wanggaard's resolution calling for support of the matter.

Wanggaard, whose background is in law enforcement, said research he has reviewed shows that violent crime has been reduced in the 45 states that have adopted concealed-carry laws.

"The statistics don't lie," Wanggaard said. "They're there, they've been looked at. I just think it's something we should support it. I know a lot of law enforcement officers who support it and I think it's the right thing to do."

But Lange said a wide variety of organizations have voiced opposition to the legislation, including the Racine City Council, the Western Racine County Health Department, the Racine Dominicans, the League of Women Voters, the state Chiefs of Police Association and the Badger State Sheriff's Association.

Even County Executive Bill McReynolds, a former president of the sheriff's association, weighed in against the matter when pressed by Lange and Sharkozy.

Lumpkin, whose district includes Racine's inner-city, said citizens need to "eradicate guns rather than put more through."

But Vos said the issue was not so much about guns, but about freedom. He also said the concealed-carry law would help the state Supreme Court interpret the law in light of the recently passed state constitutional amendment guaranteeing citizens the right to bear arms.

Vos and Anderson noted that there were already dozens of people, perhaps more, already carrying guns illegally.

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