Wisconsin lawmakers vote to suspend gun training rule

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Republican-controlled legislative committee has voted to do away with a requirement that that applicants for permits to carry concealed weapons complete four hours of training.

Monday’s vote does away with the rule written by Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen’s Department of Justice for the law that took effect last week.

Van Hollen spoke in support of keeping the four-hour training minimum, saying it was the industry standard and not having it would make it impossible for the DOJ to verify training was completed.

The law requires training, but doesn’t say how much.   Republican Rep. Scott Suder says the Legislature’s intent was to leave it up to applicants to determine how many hours of training they needed.

About 900 concealed carry permits have been issued so far.