Bill Glauber

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

State Rep. Bob Gannon (R-West Bend) said he has belonged to his local West Bend Sunrise Rotary Club for 23 years.

But on Tuesday, Gannon announced he was taking a leave of absence and likely quitting the group over the Rotary International policy on guns.

Gannon, a fierce gun rights proponent, is upset by the international organization's policy prohibiting clubs from accepting relationships or sponsorships "that support the use of harmful products," including guns.

The policy was spelled out on the website of Rotary District 6270, which oversees groups in southeastern Wisconsin.

"Rotary International has every right to act like a mini United Nations, but I also have the right to no longer support them," Gannon said in a news release.

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Gannon said the policy would mean the local Rotary would have to sever its relationship with Delta Defense/United States Conceal Carry Association. He asked for the local Rotary to send a resolution to the Evanston, Ill.-based Rotary International to rescind the policy.

Rotary International is a global group with 1.2 million members.

Gannon said in an interview that when he was president of his local Rotary chapter, the organization funded a well in a "third-world country" but did not dictate that the country had to be a democracy.

"I just ask the international organization to treat the us the same way," he said. "We give money to other countries from Rotary with no conditions. Rotary International is now saying there are conditions on any money collected in the United States. We're being held to a different standard."