Madison - Wisconsin residents would be allowed to carry concealed weapons without getting permits or any training under a bill a Senate committee approved Wednesday, and the lead sponsor of the measure said she supported allowing people to bring guns into the state Capitol.

The vote came the same day an email from a top aide to Gov. Scott Walker was released that said as of six months ago Walker was prepared to sign "any" concealed weapons legislation. The email was written before the idea was proposed to allow people to carry hidden guns without permits, and Walker said Wednesday he would have to review whatever comes to him before deciding whether to sign it.

The bill approved 3-2 by the Senate Judiciary Committee would allow state residents 21 and older to carry concealed weapons as long as they weren't felons or otherwise barred from possessing firearms. Guns could be carried most places but would be banned from schools, law enforcement offices, jails, prisons and courthouses.

Democrats opposed to the measure tried to include the Capitol on the list of places where guns were banned, but Republicans who run the committee refused to allow a vote on it. In discussing the idea, Sen. Pam Galloway (R-Wausau), author of the concealed weapons legislation, told the committee she would support allowing people to bring guns in the Capitol.

"So what's the point of having metal detectors?" Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) responded, referring to high levels of security that have been put in place in the Capitol in response to recent protests.

Galloway's comment on allowing guns in the Capitol comes after weeks of complaints from Republicans that they have felt unsafe at times because of the ongoing protests over curtailing collective bargaining for public workers.

In response to the weeks of protests, Walker has closed all but two entrances to the Capitol and installed metal detectors at them. Protesters show up on a daily basis, though in much smaller numbers than they did earlier this year.

The committee's party-line vote sends the bill to the Senate. Republicans said the measure was essential to allow people to protect themselves, while Democrats said it would make city streets more dangerous.

"We're almost inviting some pretty tragic situations to happen," Erpenbach said.

But Galloway said allowing people to carry concealed weapons would deter criminals.

"The police can't be everywhere," she said. "The sheriff can't be everywhere."

Wisconsin and Illinois are the only two states that now ban carrying concealed weapons, but most states require permits and training. Just four states allow people to carry guns without permits, and nine do not require training.

Top cops back training

Many in law enforcement, including Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn and Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., support allowing people to carry concealed weapons but say people should be required to get training. Flynn sent a letter to lawmakers Wednesday urging them to pass a common-sense bill that also beefs up penalties for illegally carrying guns and buying guns for felons.

Democrats for years have blocked efforts to repeal Wisconsin's concealed weapons ban, but gun rights advocates are confident they can get legislation approved now that Republicans control the Legislature and governor's office.

But Republicans are divided on how to structure the legislation, and that dispute is more difficult to navigate because of attempts to recall six Republican senators and three Democratic senators. Some Republicans favor the legislation approved by the committee that does not require permits, while others want those who wish to carry concealed weapons to go through background checks and get permits.

Walker has long advocated for passing a law allowing people to carry concealed guns if they get permits from the state, but he has shied away from saying how he feels about allowing people to do so without getting permits.

Walker reiterated his support Wednesday for concealed weapons legislation generally but again declined to say where he stood on the bill the committee approved.

"I reserve the right to take a look at that before (signing it)," Walker said.

Shortly after the election, Walker planned to sign whatever lawmakers approved, according to a newly released email.

"SKW will sign any concealed carry bill that passes the Legislature," Walker aide Ryan Murray wrote in a November email to other staffers, referring to the governor by his initials.

Murray at the time was Walker's deputy transition director for policy. He is now Walker's policy director, and he served a similar role during the campaign.

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie on Wednesday said Murray had fired off the email during the transition to tell staff how to respond to queries from constituents about carrying concealed weapons. He noted the bill approved in committee Wednesday had not yet been introduced when that email was sent.

The email from Murray was acquired by the liberal group One Wisconsin Now through the state's open records law. Walker's office verified it was authentic.

Those who support allowing people to carry concealed weapons without permits call it "constitutional carry" and say there should be few limits on carrying guns because the right is enshrined in the Second Amendment.

Republicans control the Senate 19-14 and would need at least 17 votes to approve any concealed weapons legislation.

Supporters of constitutional carry can count on the support of Democratic Sen. Jim Holperin of Conover, who announced this week he backs constitutional carry.

"I've always believed that responsible and qualified citizens deserve the right to carry and use firearms as guaranteed by both our state and federal constitutions with the fewest possible restrictions," said a statement from Holperin, who is likely to face a recall election.

But one of the Republicans targeted for recall - Sen. Luther Olsen of Ripon - said he would vote against concealed weapons legislation if it did not require permits and training. Another recall target, Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), has said she also wants the bill to include those requirements.

Two other Republican recall targets, Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls and Randy Hopper of Fond du Lac, declined to say whether they could support weapons legislation that did not require permits or training. The other two Republicans likely to face recall, Dan Kapanke of La Crosse and Rob Cowles of Green Bay, could not be reached Wednesday.

Shelly Moore, a teacher from River Falls who plans to run against Harsdorf as a Democrat, said Harsdorf had an obligation to tell voters where she stands on constitutional carry. Moore said she opposes the bill because of concerns raised by law enforcement but added she believes a compromise could be found that would satisfy supporters and opponents of gun rights.

Some of the Democrats planning to run in recall elections released statements Wednesday saying they supported gun rights but that the legislation in the Senate was too extreme because it would allow guns in day care centers, churches and domestic abuse shelters.

Under the bill, the owners of those facilities could ban guns if they posted signs saying they weren't allowed.

With control of the Senate in play, gun rights supporters want the Legislature to approve concealed weapons legislation before the first recall elections are held July 12. Leaders have not yet scheduled a vote.

The bill the committee adopted would allow people to carry concealed weapons in most places without getting permits as long as they were a state resident, 21 or older and not otherwise barred from possessing firearms. They could also get optional permits that would allow them to carry guns closer to schools and give them the ability to carry concealed weapons in other states that have reciprocity agreements.

Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.