SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) – A Northeast Wisconsin Sheriff is urging area lawmakers to not vote to support new gun bills.
Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber says the proposal of new red flag laws is concerning to him.
He says he does not see any other way that law enforcement would not be involved in removing guns from the homes of people who are perceived to be a threat.
He says he does not like the idea of his law enforcement team being used in this way.
According to the early details of the Governor’s proposal, a judge would be able to decide if a person would be a threat to themselves or others with the help of people who report the concern.
Once that determination is made, the judge goes through the process to eliminate that person’s access to a firearm.
“He would then order law enforcement to go take their weapons,” Bieber said. “That would then put us in the crosshair.”
Sheriff Bieber says protecting people is their job and they need to use whatever means are necessary, but he worried about the message that sends to citizens.
“Everybody should be prepared to defend themselves and to be better protected and I continue to hold that stance.”
Bieber has been known for informing the citizens of Shawano County that it is their responsibility to protect themselves, their families and their homes until law enforcement can help.
He says taking self-defense measures is something that all people should do and having gun restrictions based on fear or assumption of what might happen is not the way to promote that.
He says to him, the solution will be found in mental health and getting back to family roots.
“What has changed in our society? That is how we should approach this subject and not infringe on people’s Second Amendment rights.”
He says the other problem that will impact Shawano County is the availability of the deputies to do the firearm removals.
“We rarely ever get the funding to do things properly and our Second Amendment rights need to be upheld. I understand that there will be potentially dangerous people, but that is potential. It adds more responsibility to law enforcement when we are already running thin on resources.”
Bieber says if that person is identified as a threat, there are other ways to address that person.
