Here’s the Milwaukee Journal’s story –
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=403791
Quote:
Drop your weapons!
Plans to use submachine guns to raise money to oust Gov. Jim Doyle have been shot down.
Richard Baker, top dog at the Wisconsin Concealed Carry Movement, thought he could raise a few grand by inviting supporters to TheShooters Shop in West Allis for five hours of target practice, complete with a variety of automatic weapons, a.k.a. submachine guns.
Doyle has twice vetoed measures that would legalize the carrying of concealed weapons in Wisconsin.
“The $40 contribution to the WCCM covers the cost of range time and the use of any or all submachine guns you want to shoot,” said an e-mail from Baker promoting the March 12 event. “Your participation in this event won’t just be fun. It will also make Doyle’s corrupt regime a footnote in history.”
Now there’s a fund-raiser that should fire up the troops.
Baker even pitched the shoot-a-thon as a way to bring families together, to fire a few rounds and to complain about Doyle.
“There is no age limit for those participating, so you’re welcome to bring your sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, etc., as your guests,” the e-mail said. But it added this word of caution: “Please be realistic, though, as to whether your young guests will be able to handle full-auto guns. You know them; we don’t.”
All was going well, with a dozen or so people already signing up. Baker was hoping to attract more than 100 supporters, on his way to raising $60,000 to spend on this year’s governor’s race.
But then fellow firearm fanatic Jim Fendry, head of the Wisconsin Pro-Gun Movement, raised questions about the legality of passing around machine guns that can rip off 800 rounds a minute. Fendry suggested that state law might require each shooter, not just the Green Bay dealer bringing the exotic weapons, to get the blessing of a top law enforcement type.
Baker, who tries to keep a low profile – he wouldn’t even say what he does for a living, fearing it would alienate clients – didn’t want to tempt fate and said he immediately put the kibosh on the rootin’ tootin’ fund-raiser.
“Having that as a fund-raiser for a political action committee puts it into a more political realm,” Baker said. He noted that in the past, he had allowed his customers to fire an “Eliot Ness-type” submachine gun that he used to own. “This is more high profile. I have concerns, very serious concerns, for how Governor Doyle would respond to this. What would he do?”
So the fear of the long arm of the law killed the event – at least that’s Baker’s story, and he’s sticking to it.
But Kevin Nugent, owner of The Shooters Shop, has a different take on why the event was muzzled.
“When we found out this was a political fund-raiser against the governor, I canceled it,” Nugent said, point-blank. “We are non-partisan.”
The gun store is not opposed to submachine guns, or even allowing the weapons to be shared on its firing range. Occasionally, the range is rented out for bachelor or bachelorette parties, where somebody brings a tommy gun or an Uzi to fire off.
Nugent also would be OK with raising cash for the concealed carry movement.
“Obviously, I am for concealed carry. I own a gun store,” Nugent said. “But I like to keep out of the political arena.”
Doyle’s people are smirking a bit as they watch the pair duel. The governor’s handlers will even gladly accept the blame for blowing up the planned event.
“Most sane people would agree that stopping a fund-raiser where they’re nutty enough to hand out machine guns is to the advantage of public safety,” campaign flack Melanie Fonder said Thursday. “Anytime you have the concealed-carry gun lobby lining up against you, you’re doing something right.”
