Frederica Freyberg:

Governor Jim Doyle responded to the Van Hollen memo by saying that local communities should be able to adopt their own laws about open carry. State democratic representative Leon Young of Milwaukee favors a statewide ban on open carry in Wisconsin and plans to draft new legislation to make that happen. Young is also a former police officer and joins us from Milwaukee with reaction. Thanks very much for doing so, Representative Young.  

 

Leon Young:

Thank you for inviting me.

 

Frederica Freyberg:

What was your reaction when you read the advisory memo on the open carry law?

 

Leon Young:

You know, I happened to be going to eat some breakfast. I was in Madison that day. As I was going into a local Denny's, I read the newspaper headlines. And I was just shocked and surprised. I did like a double take. I went on and purchased the newspaper and then as I was eating breakfast, I was reading the article. Just shocked and surprised that that particular opinion, I disagree. It is difficult for me because I'm not an attorney to refute the top cop here in Wisconsin, but I disagree with it.

 

Frederica Freyberg:

What was the origin of your shock and surprise?  

 

Leon Young:

Well, again, I used to be a police officer. About seven years with the Milwaukee police department. And if I would see someone carrying a gun on their side holster or just carrying it in their hands, to me that would cause a disturbance. As a result of that, if I saw someone I would arrest them for state disorderly conduct. So again for him not to say that it doesn't cause a disturbance, I scratch my head on that one there.

 

Frederica Freyberg:

And do you suppose it matters where you are? You know, in the city of Milwaukee that has been beset with violent crime and gun violence may be a different matter than somewhere else in the state.

 

Leon Young:

I think it shouldn't. I think if someone up north, say, Superior, Wisconsin, if they're carrying a gun and they're not arrested or if they are arrested, then the same should happen here in Milwaukee. So I hate to see some places where this law might be enforced and some places it's not.

Frederica Freyberg:

So when the governor says that he thinks that it ought to be up to individual communities to perhaps pass their own ordinances on this matter, you think instead that it ought be an across-the-board so that it's very clear?

 

Leon Young:

I think so. You know, initially I wasn't aware of what the governor was talking about, but after reading up on it, I can see the pros and cons of it. I think what he basically is trying to get at is we have a state legislature, state assembly, state senate. If we can't address the issue as far as clarifying if it's legal or un-legal for someone to carry a gun, maybe we should allow the local city of Milwaukee or local counties to pass their own rules and laws, trying to address the issue.

 

Frederica Freyberg:

What concerns do you have that the message from the so-called top cop of the state of Wisconsin will actually prompt more people to buy and carry guns?  

 

Leon Young:

Well, that's what I'm concerned. I do not want to see a proliferation of people all of a sudden starting to carry guns. Again, not in Milwaukee and just throughout the state. I would hate to see that. I'm concerned because he’s the top guy here in Wisconsin and I think he's creating confusion. He has a possibility of creating chaos and as an elected official, we should try to create peace and give people hope. And I don't know if he's doing that.                    

 

Frederica Freyberg:

You know, on the flip side, the proponents of this would say, yes, but there is no confusion because open carry is legal in the state of Wisconsin. But the point is you would like it to be illegal.  

 

Leon Young:

Correct. If it is legal, I would like to ban it. I'm working on legislation right now to clarify it. And hopefully within a week or two weeks I'll get the results back to that. But let me -- I brought the article one, section 25 of the Wisconsin constitution and I just wanted to kind of touch on this particular issue. It said that people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose. The confusion comes from where it talks about the right to keep and bear arms and what does that mean. The right to keep, some people might say that might reference you can keep a gun in your house. And then the right to bear arms for security might be gives you the right to carry the gun. I was working with the drafters and they said they think they can draft something that can clarify so there's no confusion.

 

Frederica Freyberg:

I think everyone would be good with clarity on this, to be sure. How difficult do you suppose it will be to change the gun laws in Wisconsin?  

 

Leon Young:

Well, I will get support; it will be easier to get support from my colleagues here in Milwaukee area and southeastern Wisconsin. But it seems like up north it would be tough to get people to sign on to any legislation or vote in favor of some legislation. So I think that gets back to what the governor was saying, to allow local units of government to enact their own rules to address this issue.

 

Frederica Freyberg:

So in your mind this is very much a work in progress. Representative Young, we appreciate very much you joining us from Milwaukee.  

 

Leon Young:

Thank you so much.