The Personal Protection Act (PPA), legislation making Wisconsin the 39th Right-to-Carry state, passed the full Assembly by a vote of 64-32. Last week, the full State Senate approved the legislation by a strong bi-partisan vote of 23-10. After one last procedural stop in the Senate, the bill will be transmitted to Governor Jim Doyle (D) for his promised veto.
He vetoed similar legislation in 2003. After a successful override in the Senate, the Assembly fell one vote short of making the PPA a reality after Representative Gary Sherman (D-District 74) deviated from his previous support of the measure by voting to sustain the veto. He cited raw partisan political considerations as his reason for changing his vote thus killing this life-saving legislation.
With the addition of two representatives who support the PPA who were absent during the Assembly vote, there are 66 representatives who support the PPA. This is the number needed for a veto override. In the Senate, 22 votes are necessary for an override. Each house passed the PPA with veto-proof margins.
It is essential that state representatives who voted for the bill hear from you. They can be reached at (800) 362-9472. Thank them for their support and request that they continue to support the PPA in the event of a veto override vote. You can see how the Assembly voted by going to www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/votes/av0415.pdf.