Post by Robert Braun on Jul 17, 2007 7:45:08 GMT -5
With the cow already out of the barn, liberal Madison seeks (once again) to ban replica guns, rather than use existing Wisconsin laws that ALREADY prohibit use of such items to "threaten," or "Intimidate."
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TUE., JUL 17, 2007 - 12:04 AM
Proposal takes aim at replica gun violations
By MATTHEW DeFOUR
608-252-6144
mdefour@madison.com
A proposed Madison ordinance restricting the use of replica guns wouldn't have prevented Sunday's fatal police shooting, but the incident highlights the need to discuss the issue, the proposal's chief sponsor said.
Ald. Judy Compton, 16th District, said she drafted the ordinance after learning from police about the problem of replica guns being used in robberies or brought to school to intimidate other students.
"I would advocate that we ban the facsimile guns altogether," Compton said, though she acknowledged it would be more difficult to do so. "What we need to do in the city is free our officers to be able to protect our residents from the threat."
The proposed ordinance, sponsored by Compton and nine other council members, doesn't call for a ban, but seeks to localize existing state law, which prohibits using a replica gun "to alarm, intimidate, threaten or terrify another person."
State law doesn't apply to law enforcement officials or anyone using such weapons on private property with the permission of the property owner.
If passed at the first City Council meeting in August, the ordinance would allow police to write tickets and bring replica gun cases before Madison Municipal Court. Offenders could be slapped with a $300 fine.
The ordinance allows police officers to crack down on the unauthorized use of replica guns without the need for a district attorney to file charges, said City Council President Mike Verveer, who is also an assistant district attorney.
"Taking nothing away from this proposal," said Verveer, one of the co-sponsors, "I don't believe that this would have prevented the (Sunday night) incident from occurring as this already is a provision in state law."
Wisconsin already has one of the most stringent replica gun laws in the country, according to Jeri Bonavia, executive director of Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, so there has been limited effort to ban such weapons.
"Although we understand that there can be a problem," she said, "we try to focus our attention on real guns."
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==========================
TUE., JUL 17, 2007 - 12:04 AM
Proposal takes aim at replica gun violations
By MATTHEW DeFOUR
608-252-6144
mdefour@madison.com
A proposed Madison ordinance restricting the use of replica guns wouldn't have prevented Sunday's fatal police shooting, but the incident highlights the need to discuss the issue, the proposal's chief sponsor said.
Ald. Judy Compton, 16th District, said she drafted the ordinance after learning from police about the problem of replica guns being used in robberies or brought to school to intimidate other students.
"I would advocate that we ban the facsimile guns altogether," Compton said, though she acknowledged it would be more difficult to do so. "What we need to do in the city is free our officers to be able to protect our residents from the threat."
The proposed ordinance, sponsored by Compton and nine other council members, doesn't call for a ban, but seeks to localize existing state law, which prohibits using a replica gun "to alarm, intimidate, threaten or terrify another person."
State law doesn't apply to law enforcement officials or anyone using such weapons on private property with the permission of the property owner.
If passed at the first City Council meeting in August, the ordinance would allow police to write tickets and bring replica gun cases before Madison Municipal Court. Offenders could be slapped with a $300 fine.
The ordinance allows police officers to crack down on the unauthorized use of replica guns without the need for a district attorney to file charges, said City Council President Mike Verveer, who is also an assistant district attorney.
"Taking nothing away from this proposal," said Verveer, one of the co-sponsors, "I don't believe that this would have prevented the (Sunday night) incident from occurring as this already is a provision in state law."
Wisconsin already has one of the most stringent replica gun laws in the country, according to Jeri Bonavia, executive director of Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, so there has been limited effort to ban such weapons.
"Although we understand that there can be a problem," she said, "we try to focus our attention on real guns."
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