Conceal Carry Best When Backed by Training, Police Chief Says

While Shorewood Police Chief David Banaszynski said he backs a citizen’s right to obtain a concealed carry permit — he also backs it being earned through education.

“We are still going to be respectful of resident’s rights,” Banaszynski told Patch Wednesday.

“(But), if they are going to drop the minimum amount of training, why even have training at all?”

Banaszynski's comments come after lawmakers moved Monday to abolish the previously set four-hour minimum firearms training requirement, according to JSOnline.com, meaning people could "pay to take courses that last just a few minutes," and then receive a permit, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said.

“It’s more about training on when to use the weapon, rather than on how to use it. People aren’t going to put a gun on their waist without knowing how to use it. That’s not the issue. Carriers need to know when they can actually use their weapon,” he said.

“Even Texas has an eight hours of training requirement, and it’s a state that is traditionally liberal with their weapon laws.”

Wisconsin was the 49th state to add a concealed carry law; Illinois is now the only state without a statute allowing concealed weapons. The Department of Justice estimates more than 25,000 people have applied for permits since the agency started accepting applications on Nov. 1.