In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
▓♣ DARN!
Judge Dread
Member Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭✭✭
Baumgart, Doyle Propose Gun BanPump Shotguns and Most Other Firearms BannedVirtually every gun used to hunt in Wisconsin would be illegal to use under a bill authored by Senator Jim Baumgart at the request Attorney General Jim Doyle. The supposed terrorism legislation would outlaw the use of any pump, lever or bolt action rifle or shotgun as well as any revolver or semi-automatic firearm for hunting, self-defense or target practice. In fact, only single-shot firearms, less than one-percent of all firearms, could be used by anyone except law enforcement and the military. Anyone using a firearm that holds more than one bullet or even owning a single bullet would be guilty of a Felony. "If Baumgart and Doyle get their way, every hunter in Wisconsin would be an instant criminal, facing prison and a lifetime loss of voting rights," said state Senator Dave Zien (R-Wheaton). "Reloading your own shotgun shells could send you to prison for 15-years."Rather than ban firearms outright, Doyle and Baumgart ban all types of ammunition by defining the bullet as both a "destructive device" and an "explosive," the gunpowder as an "explosive" and even the tiny primer that ignites every bullet is specifically called a "detonator." Owning, possessing or using any of these items would be a felony offense, unless the citizens could prove they were only for use in "firearms that are designed to shoot no more than one shot without manual reloading" (i.e. single shot firearms)."Can you imagine a Wisconsin elected official outlawing the use every pump shotgun and labeling every duck hunter a terrorist?" asked Zien. "Maybe the Attorney General should concentrate on the real terrorists and leave law-abiding gun owners alone."The bill even goes as far as allowing photographs of a person with banned material to be used as evidence of a crime. "This will make the picture of a hunter with her Remington 870 and a trophy buck evidence of terrorist activity," said Zien.In 1998, Wisconsin voters amended the state Constitution to protect the right of law-abiding citizens to posses and use firearms. Because the Constitution prevents Doyle from banning the gun, the only way he can deny hunters the use of their guns is to ban the ammunition."It is no wonder people are cynical about their government," said Zien, author of Wisconsin's Right to Keep and Bear Arms. "When the attorney charged with upholding our Constitution deliberately tries to thwart that Constitution and deny the will of the people, it gives all public servants a bad name."Information on the Attorney General's website describing the points of Doyle's "Anti-Terrorism Legislative Package" mentions nothing about the gun ban provisions. Zien noted the information distributed to legislators also mentioned nothing about the bans. Doyle can only propose the language to legislators. The legislative author (Baumgart) takes whatever he chooses from Doyle's draft and introduces his own bill.Baumgart likewise mentions nothing about the bans in his memo to legislators asking them to join as cosponsors of his bill."Unfortunately, a lot of well-intentioned legislators signed on to the 56-page bill without knowing this little treat was hidden inside," said Zien. "If you are going to take away my right to shoot my deer rifle, at least admit it up front."Following are key provisions of the ban language as proposed by Baumgart/Doyle in Senate Bill 363 [Comments in brackets added]:947.07 (1) (c) "Destructive device" means an overpressure device, or a device that contains an explosive or an incendiary and is designed or configured to cause substantial * harm, death, or property damage, including any of the following devices:947.07 (1) (d) "Detonator" means a device containing an exploding charge used to initiate detonation in an explosive or a destructive device, or any device capable of initiating or setting off an explosive charge including, but not limited to, an impact device, a timing mechanism, a primer, primer or detonating cord, a detonating cap, detonating waves, electric blasting caps, blasting caps for use with safety fuses, a shock tube initiator, or detonating cord delay connectors. [A "primer" is the ignition device that sets off every bullet or shotgun shell.]947.07 (1) (f) "Explosive" means any chemical compound, other substance, or mechanical system that is intended to produce an explosion capable of causing substantial * harm, death, or property damage, including such a compound, substance, or system that contains oxidizing and combustible units in proportions or quantities that ignition, fire, friction, concussion, percussion, or detonation may produce an explosion; including, but not limited to, items on the list of explosive materials published pursuant to 18 USC 841 (d) and 27 CFR 55.23.947.07 (2) (a) Whoever manufactures, buys, sells, offers to sell, transfers, distributes or possesses an explosive or a destructive device is guilty of a class C felony. [Class C Felony = Up to 15 year sentence.]947.07 (3) (a) Whoever uses an explosive or a destructive device is guilty of a Class B felony. [Class B Felony = Up to 60 year sentence]947.07 (7) (c) Ammunition for firearms or components for ammunition for firearms that are designed to shoot no more than one shot without manual reloading. [This is the only firearms related exception to the above restrictions. Attorneys agree, the exception would not apply to any gun that can be loaded with more than one bullet or shell.]947.07 (8) Evidence. A photograph, electronic image, videotape, or other identifying evidence of an explosive, destructive device, detonator, or weapon of mass destruction that is properly authenticated as provided under ch. 909 is admissible as evidence in lieu of the actual explosive, destructive device, detonator, or weapon of mass destruction in any action or proceeding concerning an explosive, destructive device, detonator, or weapon of mass destruction.
_%_S
_%_S
Comments