Published: April 8, 2016
DNR postpones rule change proposals
Local legislator believes one rule violates state law
Daily News
Responding to overwhelming criticism, including from Rep. Bob Gannon,
R-Slinger, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has decided to
table its rule packages proposal which was to go in front of the
Natural Resources Board next week.
More than 30 rule changes were to be presented to the NRB at its
Wednesday meeting in Madison. Among those rule changes included
removing the ban of possessing or discharging a weapon — gun, crossbow,
etc. — in state parks and replace it with a ban in designated campsites,
and create universal rules for shooting ranges, which include the
possession and consumption of alcohol at shooting ranges.
“As of (Thursday) morning, we’re delaying consideration, based on the
number of comments that we received, the input we received,” DNR
spokesman George Althoff said Thursday. “It became evident that some
people were misinterpreting our intention.”
Among those not a fan of some of the rule changes was Gannon.
“I’ve been disappointed with some of the rules,” he said Thursday.
“This is a shining example of packing more restrictions without
thinking them through.”
On Wednesday, Gannon released a statement about his disappointment
with the DNR, specifically pointing to the possession or discharge of a
weapon in a state park or campsite.
“As the Legislature is the elected body of the government, we have
been designated the power to create the laws of the state,” he
said in the statement. “The DNR should not be promulgating any rule or
regulation that moves that power away from the officials elected to
fulfill it.”
The DNR’s
proposal was to “remove state parks from and add designated campsites
to the list of locations where no person may take, catch, kill, hunt,
trap or pursue any wild animal or bird, or discharge any firearm, or
have in possession or under control any uncased firearm or air gun or
any bow, crossbow, slingshot or springload device designed for shooting
a projectile unless the same is unstrung or enclosed in a carrying
case.”
According to the DNR’s proposal, “state parks are being removed from the list to be consistent with a statutory change, which expanded hunting in state parks.”
In addition, “designated campsites are added to the list for public safety consideration.”
Gannon wrote in his statement, “This seriously concerns me because the
Legislature purposely wrote state statutes giving its citizens some of
the broadest (concealed- carry weapon) rights in the nation.”
Althoff said the DNR’s proposal wouldn’t override state law. Gannon disagreed.
“That directly conflicts with the concealed carry laws in the state of Wisconsin,” Gannon said. “You can go to the Capitol with a concealed (weapon), but not in the middle of a forest?”
Althoff admitted there was a “lack of clarity” with the rules proposal package.
“This package of rules, I thought, was pretty clear and that it didn’t
impact open carry,” he added. “But (opponents) thought it did.
“We thought we would pull it off the agenda for next week, gather feedback, listen to concerns and make adjustments.”
Gannon prefers it not come up again.
“Don’t pass laws that are not truly clear or absolutely on point,” he said. “We’re cluttering the rules and regulations.”
As far as the shooting range regulations, some of the proposed rules
included no malt, fermented or alcoholic beverages are permitted within
the area maintained as the shooting range; no exploding, glass or other
breakable materials may be used as targets, except clay targets; and
firearms should be unloaded and their actions open except while on the
firing line.
Gannon said he’d support a rule prohibiting alcohol at shooting ranges.
“I don’t like people intoxicated and hunting,” he said. “It’s not a good mix.”
The argument against outlawing alcohol at shooting ranges is range
businesses want to host fundraisers, which include alcohol sales and
consumption.
Gannon said state law prohibits one going to a restaurant where alcohol is served and have a gun.
“There’s got to be common sense,” Gannon said.
The DNR will revisit its proposals, reach out to advocacy groups and
the public, and collect more information about its ideas. The hope is to
have a more concise set of rule proposals where there is no confusion.
“We’re not going to rush it,” Althoff said. “We want to do it right.”
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