WC Wisconsin News

A proposed law would lower the minimum age for a concealed carry permit in Wisconsin from the current 21 to 18, Wisconsin Public Radio PR reported.

The sponsor, Rep. Shae Sortwell, said the current minimum is arbitrary since 18 year olds have the right to vote or go to war.

"It is our obligation as the state Legislature under our oath to the Constitution of the United States and oath to the state constitution to ensure equality before the law," Sortwell said at a public hearing on the plan, WPR reported.

The National Rifle Association, Safari Club, Wisconsin Firearms Owners Inc. and Wisconsin Gun Owners Inc. are supporting the change, the story said.

But the City of Milwaukee, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort (WAVE) are against lowering the age.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone aged 18-20 to buy a firearm, WAVE executive director Jeri Bonavia said.

"Which means that this age group that they’re talking about would likely need to be purchasing their gun from the gray market, from private sellers," Bonavia said. "Which means that there would be no background check conducted on those purchases."

Allowing more young people access to guns would make everyone less safe, she added.

Bonavia said she was also concerned that giving more young people access to guns would make everyone less safe, Bonavia said.

Republicans in the state are considering other gun legislation including allowing people with concealed carry permits to keep guns in their vehicles on school grounds, WPR reported.