The Wisconsin state Senate on Monday approved, through its internal Committee on Senate Organization, a policy that will allow senators and others to carry firearms on the floor — but in a hint of compromise, spectators will not be able to bring guns into the Senate gallery during floor sessions.
Also, individual lawmakers who do not want guns in their own offices will be able to post signs notifying citizens that weapons will not be allowed.
The rules were passed on Monday, on a party-line 3-2 vote, and then took effect today.
As TPM has previously posted, the policy is a result of the state’s new law, passed by the Republican legislature and signed by Gov. Scott Walker, allowing residents to obtain concealed-carry permits.
A source in Wisconsin gave TPM this e-mail from the office of Senate Clerk Robert Marchant, distributed in the Senate on Monday:
The Committee on Senate Organization, by a vote of Ayes, 3 (Fitzgerald, Ellis and Grothman), Noes, 2 (Miller and Hansen), has adopted the following policy:
SENATE POLICY REGARDING CARRYING WEAPONS
GENERAL POLICY
An individual may carry a weapon in any space within the State Capitol that is assigned to the State Senate and/or the State Senate’s members or officers, provided the individual is not prohibited by law or Senate policy from carrying the weapon.CHAMBER GALLERIES AND SENATE OFFICES
Except as provided below, no individual may carry a weapon (A) In the Senate chamber galleries during the period of time beginning 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of the Senate floor session and ending 15 minutes following final adjournment of that floor session or (B) Within office space assigned to a Senator, provided the Senator has posted a sign in a prominent place near the public entrance to the office, stating the weapon restriction for that office. The Chief Clerk shall provide uniform signage for use by Senators under this policy.Any Senator who wants a sign for his or her office should contact my office at xxx-xxxx. We have signs ready to deploy upon request.
Thanks.
Rob
