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Wisconsin Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond to Senate Committee Passing Dangerous Permitless Carry Bill

1.12.2022

Research Shows States That Have Repealed Permitting Systems Have Experienced Increases in Gun Violence

The Wisconsin chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement after the Wisconsin Senate Insurance, Licensing and Forestry Committee today passed Senate Bill 619, dangerous legislation to eliminate Wisconsin’s permit requirement for carrying a handgun in public. The bill, which now goes to the full Senate, would allow individuals, including those who would not have passed a background check, to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public. Permitless carry has been shown to increase gun violence in other states. 

“Our state’s permitting system is an effective public safety measure that helps keep guns out of the wrong hands – dismantling it would be dangerous, and make our state’s gun violence crisis worse,” said Carly Fisher, a volunteer with the Wisconsin chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Instead of prioritizing measures that will put Wisconsinites’ lives in danger, our lawmakers should be focusing on bills that will take real steps to protect communities from gun violence.”  

Polling shows that permitting systems like Wisconsin’s current system are overwhelmingly popular. 88 percent of Americans think you should get a permit before carrying a concealed gun in public. Repealing permitting requirements has been proven to increase gun violence in other states that have passed similar laws. Research shows that states that have weakened their firearm permitting system have experienced an 11 percent increase in handgun homicide rates and a 13-15 percent increase in violent crime rates

In addition to allowing individuals who should not be allowed to carry firearms in public to do so, permitless carry laws strip away a critical tool that law enforcement uses to differentiate between responsible gun owners and those who are prohibited from carrying a loaded weapon in public. More information about permitless carry is available here.