Wisconsin Republican wants to triple damages to business that don’t allow guns

If customer is hurt, business would suffer severe consequences

A proposal from a Wisconsin Republican might penalize businesses not allowing customers to carry in guns.

Slinger state rep., Bob Gannon, wants businesses to pay extra in damages if they prohibit guns and someone becomes a victim of gun violence while at that business. 

“If a business owner does not allow a guest, a customer, of their business to protect themselves, via legal conceal-carry, they will be under a strict liability doctrine of law,” Gannon said.

His proposal, set to be introduced in the next legislative session, would triple the damages ordered to be paid by a court. Currently, state law grants immunity to businesses that allow permit holders to carry guns on their premises. That exists for bars as well, although those carrying in a bar aren’t allowed to drink under state law.  

Gannon’s intent is to make it financially unfeasible to ban guns.

“I think going forward, should this become law, it would become more expensive to buy insurance, if you want to prevent your customers from protecting themselves,” he said.

Some businesses in Wisconsin allow guns. Gannon’s proposal wouldn’t require it, and that nobody can’t predict where shootings can occur.

“It could be a church in Green Bay, it could be a grocery store in Madison,” he said. “We’ve got more than home grown violence available.”