I Will Defend the Constitution

Wisconsin: Legislation to Prohibit More Gun Owners, Infringe Fifth Amendment -- Now Headed to House Floor!

Monday, February 15, 2010

On Wednesday, February 10, the Assembly Committee on Corrections and the Courts passed Assembly Bill 558 and Assembly Bill 559 -- two bills that, if passed by the full assembly, would have severe effects on gun owners in the state of Wisconsin.

AB 558 would expand the definition of “misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence” well beyond the scope of current federal law in order to create a new class of people who would be stripped of Second Amendment rights in Wisconsin.

Law enforcement agencies already have the tools to prosecute these crimes of domestic violence, and they are clearly spelled out in Wisconsin statutes. A sweeping new definition will not solve any problems. The current definition under state law is already broader than federal law, and this bill will add more types of relationships to it.

The second bill, AB 559, is a blatant violation of Americans' Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate themselves. The bill would require an individual who is subject to a protective order to appear before a court and reveal all the firearms that he or she owns or possesses. It would also require people in this situation to turn the guns over either to a law enforcement agency or to a third party. People in this situation would have no immunity from prosecution for the laws they might be forced to admit violating.

It is important that you contact your Representatives in the Assembly and urge them to oppose these bills if they are brought up for a floor vote. Floor action for these bills could be as early as tomorrow, so it is critical to act now. Call, write, or email your Representatives and urge them to vote “NO” on AB 558 and AB 559. Tell them that you will not sit idly by while special interest groups try to take away Second Amendment rights one piece at a time. Contact information can be found here.