Milwaukee Rising

Bill would limit emergency powers to regulate guns

Dec. 17: Update: The Common Council voted last week to oppose the bill.

Dec. 10 -- Top state and local government and law enforcement official would be stripped of their authority to regulate legal firearm use during riots, natural emergencies or enemy attack, under a pending in the State Assembly.

"The NRA (National Rifle Association), this is one of their policy items they've taken to about 21 states now," city lobbyist Terry Perry told the Common Council's Judiciary and Legislation Committee.

The legislation further restricts local control and "We would prefer not to have our local authority chpped away," she said.

The bills started surfacing after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and disorder surfaced afterwards, Perry said.

Among those who would have regulatory power stripped from them in an emergency would be the governor, police chiefs, and the adjutant general of the Department of Military Affairs, who oversees the Wisconsin National Guard.

The NRA has done "OK" pushing the bill, Perry said.

In some other states' versions of the legislation the adjutant general still is allowed to control guns in an emergency and "some states have limited discretion for police to disarm an individual if necessary," Perry said.

The committee voted, 4-1, to oppose the bill.
Ald. James Bohl dissented.