Madison, WI – Today, Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) and several colleagues released the Sporting Freedom bill package. This package contains 13 commonsense bills which will promote hunting and fishing in the state, protect the rights of sportsmen and women, as well as ensure that our natural resources are responsibly maintained. Senator Felzkowski is the author of two of these bills. The first one will allow law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed firearm without a license, reflecting the constitutional right to carry a weapon in self-defense. This proposal will also allow sportsmen and women to carry a firearm, bow, or crossbow while engaging in activities such as operating an ATV or UTV or shining wildlife.

“Written into the very fabric of the United States Constitution is the unquestionable right that citizens of this country keep and bear arms. This is similarly mirrored in the Wisconsin Constitution where it states that ‘The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose.’ Nowhere is it written that the citizens of Wisconsin must undergo any sort of registration before they are able to carry a firearm for their own protection, as well as for the protection of their loved ones. This bill reaffirms the rights and liberties of Wisconsinites to carry a weapon without the overreach of government.”

The other bill that Sen. Felzkowski released today will require the Department of Natural Resources to authorize the hunting of Sandhill Cranes in Wisconsin.

“For over 100 years, the Sandhill Crane has been a protected species and the population has seen a great deal of growth over the years. Unfortunately, farmers throughout the state have experienced thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to their crops caused by Sandhill Cranes. This bill would require the DNR to authorize the well-regulated hunting of Sandhill Cranes to keep this population in check, and ensure that the livelihood of farmers is not negatively impacted by these birds.”

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