Whitefish Bay Prepares for Concealed Carry Law

Whitefish Bay residents will be able to apply for a concealed carry permit for the first time Tuesday, but Whitefish Bay Police Chief Robert Jacobs is not expecting life to change much in the village.

The concealed carry legislation signed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker earlier this year allows the concealed carry of firearms, Tasers and other weapons with a permit. Click here for answers to commonly-asked questions about the new law.

Jacobs said the police department has had discussions internally about how officers should approach people and approach cars, given the possibility of the person carrying a weapon.

“It’s new for the public, and it’s new for officers,” Jacobs said. “I think there will be a learning curve, but I think we will deal with it, as long as people act reasonably.”

Jacobs said it is still early to tell what kind of effect the law will have in Whitefish Bay, but he said officers did not encounter a single person who took advantage of a memo from Attorney General JB Van Hollen in 2009 allowing the open carry of firearms.

While guns are now allowed in public, they are , which have signs posted restricting firearms. The Village Board unanimously approved the firearm restriction in July.

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.

Businesses are allowed to ban weapons from their property by posting a similar sign, but as of Monday afternoon, only had posted such a sign.

Wisconsin will become the 49th state to grant permits to residents that will allow them to conceal weapons, whether it be a firearm or stun gun, after undergoing training. Felons and those under 21 year of age won’t be eligible for a license.

Daniel Finerty, a Wauwatosa labor and employment litigation compliance lawyer, and talked about whether to allow weapons in their shops.

The state grants immunity from prosecution to anyone who doesn't prohibit weapons on premises in the event someone is harmed, Finerty said. And it allows for liability against a business owner who does ban weapons.

Given that, it might be very difficult even for someone who felt strongly that they wanted to ban weapons in their establishment to post a no-weapons sign for fear of prosecution or litigation.

Even trickier, Finerty said, is that, "immunity is perhaps not absolute. The law assumes that every licensed person is a good actor. But there are and always have been people who do not follow the rules. I think we all know that."

Update, 11:45 a.m.: The Department of Justice's questions and answers document explaining the new law suggests permit holders follow these steps when approached by an officer:

1. Immediately tell the officer that you're carrying a concealed weapon and where it's located.
2. Keep your hands where the officer can see them.
3. Cooperate fully with the officer.
4. Don't make any quick movements, especially toward the weapon.
5. If you're in a vehicle:
• Roll down your window and place your hands in plain view on the steering wheel
• If it is at night, turn on the vehicle's dome light.
• Calmly tell the officer you have a CCW license and that you have a weapon with you. Ask the officer if they have particular instructions concerning the weapon.
• Do not touch or attempt to touch the weapon unless specifically told to do so by the officer.
• Do not leave your vehicle unless specifically told to do so by the officer.