The National Rifle Association says it's "concerned about the implementation of Wisconsin's new concealed carry law," the Journal Sentinel reports.
What's the NRA concerned about -- that people won't get the proper training they need?
No, that they might be required to get too much training -- a whole four hours worth, and have to fire a weapon!
Clearly, someone at the state Dept. of Justice, which is writing but has not yet released the rules, has been leaking to the NRA. That's actually an improvement over what might be expected from Atty. Gen. J.B. Van Hollen. At least he's not letting the NRA write the rules.
But it will be interesting to see whether he has the backbone to stand up to the NRA on this one. Most politicians back down in the face of NRA bluster, even though the organization has had laughably little influence at the ballot box. (Example: Gov. Jim Doyle was their Number One national target for defeat in 2006. How'd that work out?)
But here's the real problem: What Van Hollen's DOJ is doing in writing administrative rules. The legislature and the governor have to approve them. And both Walker and the legislature are likely to roll over and play dead for the NRA.
The NRA, dominated by a board filled with right-wing extremists, would prefer there be no rules at all, no permits, and no background checks. That is still the NRA agenda, and they are never satisfied.
Stand by for a major cave-in soon. Hope I'm wrong, but history suggests otherwise.