Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen Issues First Permit to Carry Concealed Weapon

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Posted: 4:29 AM Jun 5, 2008
Last Updated: 4:29 AM Jun 5, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: daybreak@waw.com

18 comments

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- He's retired, but he can still pack heat.

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has issued the first permit to carry a concealed weapon to a retired Justice Department investigator.

It's illegal for citizens carry a concealed weapon in Wisconsin. But Van Hollen says the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 sets out guidelines under which qualified retired law enforcement officers can carry concealed weapons.

The former investigator, Tom Steingraeber, retired from the Justice Department in 1993. He served as director of the White Collar Crimes Bureau.

Van Hollen says a number of local law enforcement agencies have similar programs that allow retired officers to carry concealed weapons.

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Posted by: Doc Location: Tennessee on Apr 24, 2009 at 02:07 PM
As a Retired Wis. police office I find Wis Concealed carry Law ridicules. At least 34 other states allow citizens to carry concealed weapons. This is only one of the many reasons I moved out of Wis upon retirement.

Posted by: ken Location: lodi on Apr 8, 2009 at 04:37 PM
all the robberies taking place in our capital city / they would think twice before robbing someone if they didnt know if they had a concealed gun on them every night it seems someone is robbed

Posted by: Glenn Location: Waupaca, WI on Jun 7, 2008 at 06:31 PM
I don't know how any one who opposes concealed carry in WI.can sleep at night knowing that someone may have been murdered or victimized and couldn't defend themselves legally.I applaud Attorney General Van Hollen.

Posted by: David Location: Texas on Jun 6, 2008 at 04:54 PM
Walter, all retired police officers can carry concealed in all 50 states, so long as the agency they retire from will qualify them regularly (I believe once a year). That is federal law. Texas has a state law requiring all agencies to provide this for all retirees. The real crime is the departments that will not provide this service to those that have put their life on the line for so many years. Jack is right, wake up WI and IL. Nothing bad happens when you let law abiding people carry concealed. I just finished my renewal class (a brief summary of gun laws, deadly force statutes-very liberal in Texas, and qualifying on the range) that was taught by a local police officer, and held at the police union hall. Remember the difference between a citizen and a subject. Doyle or Daley would stroke out if they saw my collection, not to mention what my wife and I carry on a daily basis.

Posted by: Brian Location: Wausau, WI on Jun 6, 2008 at 01:19 PM
I just moved here from Michigan. About 2-3 years ago they voted to allow the common people to get CCW (Concealed Carry of Weapon) Permits. The democrats said it would be the old west, shootings in the streets, etc. Guess what? Didn't happen. Maybe we need to get a governor who actually trusts the citizens, not just the cops. So much for the democrats being the party of civil rights (as long as you don't mean the RIGHT to self defense).

Posted by: Molon Location: Labe on Jun 6, 2008 at 11:50 AM
As a former police officer, I am not in favor of this. I know to many retired cops who cant seperate defending themselves from still "being on the job" and they will cross the lines between the two, and problems will develope no doubt. TO WALTER: YOUR A IDIOT!!! retired cops are not going to be able to defend anyone other then themselves, they are no longer civil servants, and have to follow the same laws we do, and even more so becasue they have no high dollar union lawyers in thier corner.Civil cases are more damaging then any criminal case in weapon related offenses. I also agree with the statement made before, why is a retired or even off duty cop/officer/agent more worthy of the right to self defense then any other wisconsin citizen? If we are going to allow anyone to carry concealed, we should allow ALL to carry concealed....otherwise the bad guys will still have us outnumbered and outgunned.

Posted by: Steve Location: Arizona on Jun 6, 2008 at 10:51 AM
There are over 50,000 CCW permit holders in Maricopa county. I agree TOTALLY with David from Texas.

Posted by: Lee Anderson Location: Arizona on Jun 6, 2008 at 09:11 AM
Just thankful I live in Arizona and not a repressive State like Wisconsin. I am just a normal citizen that enjoys the freedom of the Second Amendment. Both my wife and I have Concealed Carry permits and have been carrying weapons for over six years. The crime rate where we live is almost non-existent. Why do the citizens of Wisconsin put up with such laws?

Posted by: Mike Location: New Hampshire on Jun 6, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Gee Walter, what if all law abiding CITIZENS were allowed to carry concealed? then there WOULD be one in your restaurant or mall and the criminals will know that! If you vaction in New Hampshire you can rest assured there are all kinds of people carring concealed and you need not worry. So Walter, why isnt your personal safety valuable enough to take action yourself?

Posted by: Doug Location: Darlington, WI on Jun 6, 2008 at 06:51 AM
This is a partial victory for concealed carry rights. Our communities will be safer with retired police officers carrying. But they could be a lot safer still when every law abiding citizen has the right to conceal carry! Fellow Wisconsinites, lets pick up where we left off last legislative session and demand concealed carry passage in our state house!

Posted by: John Hollingsworth Location: Seattle on Jun 6, 2008 at 12:07 AM
The abridgement of a citizen's right to carry a firearm by a state is an outrage to the U.S. Constitution. Hopefully the U.S. Supreme Court will put a stop to this unlawful madness this month when it rules on the Second Amendment and the likewise outrageous D.C. gun ban laws.

Posted by: Jeff Location: Greer SC on Jun 5, 2008 at 08:32 PM
So retired civial service employee is more trustworthy than individuals that have served 20 or 30 years in the military? I don't think so. Sounds more like a "good ol' boy friend of the Attorney General. Sad.

Posted by: JOE Location: NEW YORK on Jun 5, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Illegal for citizens of Wisconsin to carry concealed? Theres more holes in that law than Swiss cheese!

Posted by: al Location: sesser,il on Jun 5, 2008 at 08:23 PM
that is a very nice first step now you need to give the 2nd amendment back to all of the rest of the law abbiding citizens. Self defense is a God given right and no politition can take that away. Arm yourselves with the true facts and get rid of the politicals that don't trust you. Fight hard and strong but get your rights returned. Join the wisconsin state rifle assocation or the equal and get involved write your congress critters, and send the anti-gun congress critters to the soup line and let them collect their unemployment check for not representing the people, and only advancing their own agenda.

Posted by: Walter Location: springdale, ar on Jun 5, 2008 at 06:20 PM
If all retired police officers were allowed to carry concealed weapons it would increase (police) protection by thousands across the country and we wouldn't even have to pay them. It would be comforting to know that there might be one in our restaurant of choice or several in the mall where we're shopping.

Posted by: Jack Location: Elgin Illinois on Jun 5, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Now WI residents are second class citizens in their own state. Why is a retired DOJ employee's life worth protecting any more than any other WI resident. WI and IL residents wake up! We must take back control of our states before we become mere peasants.

Posted by: David Location: Texas on Jun 5, 2008 at 02:26 PM
It is sad that Doyle does not trust the citizens of your great state. 48 States have some form licensing for private citizens, without criminal or mental or substance history, to carry concealed. Guess what, there are no shoot-outs, no blood running in the streets, and the sky did not fall. The only thing that happened, is violent crime rates fell, and criminals have to think twice in selecting a victim. The streets and parks are safer when the law-abiding MIGHT be packing heat.

Posted by: David Location: Lake Orion on Jun 5, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Why is it "Ok" for a former officer allowed the right to self defend outside his home.. but not a normal citizen who is not a criminal?