Whitefish Bay Bans Concealed Firearms in Municipal Buildings

You can take your guns to town, but don't plan on bringing them to Village Hall, the library or any other municipal building in Whitefish Bay.

The concealed carry legislation signed into law Friday by Gov. Scott Walker allows the concealed carry of firearms, Tasers and other weapons as of Nov. 1. 

The law expressly prohibits an individual from carrying a concealed weapon into a police department or a courtroom while court is in session. Otherwise, carrying a concealed weapon into any other facility is permitted, unless otherwise posted.

An ordinance unanimously approved by the Village Board Monday night restricts firearms from being carried into village-owned facilities. Other concealed weapons would still be allowed in those buildings.

Village Manager Patrick DeGrave said concealed carry jeopardizes public safety in the workplace, and he has ordered signs prohibiting firearms to be placed at Village Hall, the Police Department, the Department of Public Works, Whitefish Bay Public Library and the North Shore Fire Department station in Whitefish Bay.

The concealed carry law specifically prevents the village from banning guns in public parks, but the signs also will be placed at buildings located within , and Parks. School grounds are already protected zones under state statute.

Whitefish Bay is one of the first communities to pass an ordinance limiting the concealed carry legislation, and DeGrave said several other communities intend to model their ordinances around the one approved by the board.