Whereas, the Wisconsin State Constitution states, "The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose," and,

Whereas, the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed," and,

Whereas, our nation's Attorney General, John Ashcroft, has stated that "The text and the original intent of the Second Amendment clearly protect the right of individuals to keep and bear arms," and,

Whereas, 33 states offer concealed carry laws, with another 11 states offering concealed carry in a more limited form, making Wisconsin one of only 6 states not offering any program to its citizens, and,

Whereas, as of 1987, only 7 states had concealed carry laws, it is evident that states have been enacting - and not repealing - these laws across the nation, and that "progressive" Wisconsin remains woefully behind the nation on this issue, and,

Whereas, the state of Wisconsin has a large population of sportsmen and women well-educated in the proper use of firearms, and,

Whereas, the events of September 11th, 2001, have underscored the necessity and importance of personal defense on the homefront,

Be it therefore resolved that, the undersigned support the passage of a right-to-carry law in the State of Wisconsin, and urge the legislature and the governor to pass such a law in the immediate future to recognize the need for personal security that this state's residents so require.