- Republicans said the measure would help people take control over their own safety, particularly because some felons obtain guns even though they're not supposed to have them.
"This is about allowing law-abiding citizens to protect themselves," said Rich Zipperer, R-Pewaukee.
Under the measure, weapons would be allowed everywhere except police stations, jails, courthouses, government buildings that screen for weapons and beyond airport security checkpoints. Weapons would also be prohibited in places where posted bar them, and also in specifically exempted sites such as Milwaukee's Summerfest music festival. The bill keeps the current ban on guns in schools in place.
In Illinois though, only the law-abiding are required to unarmed and victimized.