Wisconsin recently passed a concealed carry law in the state. Basically the law allows people in the state of Wisconsin to carry concealed weapons if they are licensed to do so.
However, the law is clear in that it does not trump private property rights. That is, just because you have a carry-conceal license does not mean you can carry in my home. Or other private property.
It would seem that certain people object to the concept of private property:
A Wisconsin jewelry store owner is under fire from customers for opting out of the state’s recently-passed concealed carry law.
Bret Eulberg, owner of Robert Haack Diamonds in Greenfield, Wis., says he has been getting angry messages threatening a boycott of the store. The new law allows residents to carry concealed firearms in public, but business owners still have a say whether or not they want to observe the law in their stores.
“We’re getting phone calls saying we’re not going to come to your store supporting you because you’re against gun rights,” Eulberg told Fox6Now.com. “We’re not against gun rights. My contention is if a bad guy is in my store and you’re a good Samaritan in my store and you see the bad guy whipping out the gun, we already have security procedures in place to protect ourselves.”
Private property is private property. Mr. Eulberg isn’t saying that you can’t carry a gun, he’s not saying that he disagrees with you carrying a gun, he’s saying he doesn’t want you to carry a gun on his PRIVATE property.
Damn Republicans!
I have had a legally issued North Carolina Concealed Carry permit for almost five years now. My Glock 33 in .357 SIG caliber has been on my person legally in every place allowed by law. Initially my wife was against the practice, however while engaging in normal activities there have been circumstances where she has vocalized appreciation that I’m [we’re] armed. Be it filling the tank of my truck when some tattoo’d thugs paraded around vituperously or just waiting in the parking lot of the bank on a Friday evening.
My handgun has not even once slayed a busload of nuns or a schoolfull of elementary children. My handgun is not something that I’m happy to carry- it’s heavy, unwieldy, uncomfortable, and frankly a pain in the ass. I can’t carry it to a cafe that serves booze, or to a State or Federal property. Governer Beverly Purdue has just signed SB 650 that negates some of those restrictions. Now I can legally carry my evil sidearm in a state park.
As a hiker, I see many rather attractive women running and hiking in the park. These women are alone and vulnerable. They are in secluded areas of the park where celll phones have no reception, and the next hiker may be an hour away. With a legally concealed firearm they now have a chance against an attacker who is well aware of their predicament.
Regarding carrying a weapon in your home: I am uneasy doing so. Your rules are to be abided by, but as a general rule- regarding carrying a firearm- you don’t ask so I don’t tell. This is a personal issue when I have a .32 NAA with a loaded chamber at church and I walk my children down the aisle for their time. I am self conscious about this. While science and experience has proven that my weapon is not going to ‘just go off’ without my booger hook on the bang button, I am aware that a deadly weapon is in my pocket.
Lastly, I don’t carry a weapon because I like to. I don’t want to be a police officer. I don’t want to ever, ever shoot anyone. I carry a weapon because there are people who would gladly take the life of my sons, wife, or myself for the gain of a few dollars. I know that the police are minutes away when seconds count, and that I can’t carry an officer of the law myself for very long.
I carry weapon because I love myself, my wife, my sons, and want to continue to do so for as long as humanly possible.
Thanks for offering that perspective, Ryan. I think some people misconceive that anyone for less-restrictive gun laws are just trigger happy killers-in-waiting and your level-headed reply shows that it’s just not the case.
Living in Vegas I find it’s been quite simple and likely the same for across the country – the more armed average citizens are, the less violent crime occurs. I’ve read in the last little while here about seniors who have used lethal force to protect themselves from home invaders. While part of me says, “Good!” for some punk getting what he deserved, my focus shifts almost immediately afterwards to realizing how absolutely terrified that senior must have been when he/she pulled the trigger. This seems to get lost on the left, as they seem more prone to believe the victim was the invader rather than the home owner.
the more armed average citizens are, the less violent crime occurs.
This is true. Armed civilians are not the easy marks that thugs wanna deal with.
I carry weapon because I love myself, my wife, my sons, and want to continue to do so for as long as humanly possible.
I love that you and other respectable folks carry. If the thugs ad ill-do-wellers in the world have to wonder even a little if I’m armed, it may make the difference.My beef isn’t with the people who carry or even the people who love that other people carry.
My beef is with people who take the gun thing just too far.
If I’m the owner of a business, or a house, and I mention that I don’t want guns in my place, I think that especially gun owners would understand. In this case, the jewelry store owner isn’t saying he disagrees with carry-conceal, he’s saying please don’t do it in my personal property.
And, whether or not I agree with him, I think that I should respect his property.
Thanks for lovin’ your wife and sons; and Brothers! And thanks for carryin’ and puttin’ it out there just in case.
Nowhere are these commentators saying that the store-owner doesn’t have private property rights. They are merely saying they will be taking their business elsewhere, because they would rather not disarm. The store owner then got all whiny because he doesn’t want to lose business during a down economy.
They are merely saying they will be taking their business elsewhere, because they would rather not disarm. The store owner then got all whiny because he doesn’t want to lose business during a down economy.
Fair enough. However, my take on the story was that the gun owners were angry with store owner because he “isn’t for guns rights”. Those folks have absolutely EVERY right to take their business elsewhere and they should if that’s how they feel.