Neumann, Walker spar over concealed weapons issue

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Neumann is attacking GOP opponent Scott Walker's voting record on bills that would have let Wisconsin residents carry concealed weapons. Walker's campaign says Neumann is lying.

Both Walker and Neumann say they'd sign concealed carry legislation if it reaches their desk as governor. But Neumann says what separates the two is Walker's voting record as a member of the state Assembly. He says in the legislature, Walker co-sponsored and authored a concealed-carry bill, but when it came for a vote on the Assembly floor, he voted against it.

That's partially true. In 1999 Walker did co-sponsor a concealed carry bill, although that plan never got a straight up or down vote in the legislature or in committee. Walker did join almost all other Republicans in a procedural vote blocking an attempt to pull the bill out of committee.

But Neumann also cites another Walker vote on concealed carry. Neumann says Walker voted “no” a second time two years later on another concealed carry bill.

“As I understand it today, he is in favor of concealed carry and has told the people he will sign it, so we're on both sides of that issue again," says Neumann.

Walker did vote against a concealed carry bill in 2002. He says that wasn't because of the bill itself but because of the timing of the vote. Assembly records show it took place at almost 4 a.m.

The Walker campaign issued a statement calling Neumann's campaign a "traveling circus of lies." Rep. Scott Gunderson, the lead sponsor on several failed concealed carry bills, called Neumann's attacks “ridiculous”.

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