Legislators look to curb power allowed during emergencies
By PATRICK MARLEY
State lawmakers want to clip the power of the governor and local officials to seize people’s guns during emergencies, saying that authority could trample the rights of citizens.
Legislators said they decided to try to curb those powers after seeing New Orleans police officers take guns from people during the recovery from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The Republican-run Assembly passed the bill this month on a bipartisan 84-13 vote, and the Democratic-led Senate is looking at doing the same soon.
“I just think it’s important that if there ever is a disaster similar to Katrina, that citizens are able to defend themselves, their families and their property and not be worried about government coming and confiscating their firearms,” said Rep. Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford), the sponsor of the bill.But Rep. Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee) said he was worried the bill goes too far. He said he recalls seeing the police stop vigilantes with guns from entering Milwaukee when it was gripped by civil unrest in 1967.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=699568