MADISON - In the latest fight over firearms in the state Capitol, a Republican lawmaker displayed his holstered handgun this spring to a Democratic aide in an office where weapons are banned.

The incident left the aide shaken and prompted the Assembly chief clerk to talk to GOP Rep. Shae Sortwell of Two Rivers about the matter.

Now, the aide’s boss wants Sortwell to issue an apology. There’s no sign one is coming.

“I was shocked I would have a colleague in this Capitol intentionally demonstrate behavior that is just unacceptable — should be unacceptable — to anyone in this Capitol,” Democratic Rep. Shelia Stubbs of Madison said of the incident.

In late February or early March, Sortwell entered Stubbs’ office to talk to her aide, Savion Castro, about legislation to make it easier for barbers to get professional licenses, according to Castro.

Sortwell initiated the meeting and he and the aide were the only two in Stubbs' office at the time.

ARCHIVE: Lawmaker, couple disagree on whether he showed pistol during visit

After talking about the bill, Sortwell told Castro he thought Stubbs’ sign barring guns from her office was silly, Castro said. Sortwell said people need to stop being afraid of guns and should protect the Second Amendment that guarantees the right to bear arms.

To bolster his argument, Sortwell pulled back his sport coat to show the handgun on his hip, according to the aide. Castro soon after asked Sortwell to leave and he did.

Guns are allowed in the Capitol, but officials can ban guns from their own offices. Stubbs is one of many Democrats who has posted signs on her door telling people weapons aren’t allowed there.

Legislative leaders were notified of the incident and they told Assembly Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller to talk to Sortwell. Fuller did so, according to a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester.

Sortwell repeatedly declined to give his version of events to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“You take whatever story he wants to put out there that may or may not be true and you go with it,” he told a reporter.

Sortwell walked away and did not respond to other questions. He also did not respond to emails and phone messages.

Stubbs said she’d like to require all people to stow their weapons in a locker when they visit the Capitol.

Sortwell feels differently. On his door, a large sign shows a hand holding a gun below the words “Protect the 2nd.”

Stubbs said she hasn’t heard from Sortwell about the incident but wants him to say he’s sorry to her aide in person or in writing.

“He should apologize to my staffer and he should take on accountability for his behavior,” she said.

Contact Patrick Marley at patrick.marley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @patrickdmarley.