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Madison - Gov. Scott Walker's administration is barring openly carrying guns into state buildings, even for people with valid concealed carry permits.

The Republican governor's administration is also declining to say how many state employees have told their bosses that they'll be bringing concealed guns to work after the administration decided last month to allow that for valid permit holders.

The new policies all came in response to the state's new concealed carry law, which on Nov. 1 made Wisconsin the 49th state in the nation to let citizens carry hidden weapons.

"As a matter of policy, open carry will not be allowed in state buildings, thus any person openly carrying a weapon in a state building will be asked to leave," Department of Administration spokesman Tim Lundquist said in an email.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) praised the move, saying that an open carry policy could have led to allowing rifles and shotguns to be brought into the building and would have been intimidating to visitors such as schoolchildren.

Under the concealed carry law signed by Walker, permits will be granted to those 21 and older who take training and pass a background check showing they are not felons or otherwise barred from carrying guns.

Under that law and state policy, permit holders can carry concealed guns in most parts of the Capitol, but not the Supreme Court hearing room, Capitol Police station, Senate gallery during legislative sessions and some lawmakers' offices. Permit holders can also carry concealed weapons into many other state buildings such as Division of Motor Vehicles offices.

Advocate questions move

An advocate of open carry said he was surprised by the Walker administration's decision, arguing that it contradicted the practice in recent weeks when members of his group openly carried guns in the Capitol without interference.

"I don't think there's any logical support for that policy," said Nik Clark, president of Wisconsin Carry Inc. "If someone had a gun, wouldn't you rather know it? I would."

Greg Miller of Independence, a member of Clark's group, said he received his concealed carry permit in November and then took a gun into the Capitol for a committee hearing, carrying it in both a concealed and open fashion. He said he and another member of the group spoke with a Capitol Police officer and were not checked for concealed carry licenses or asked to leave.

"I didn't have a single issue," Miller said.

Miller said a visitor to the Statehouse objected to the Capitol Police officer about Miller's openly carried sidearm. Miller said he believed it was better for the moment to carry guns concealed in the state Capitol rather than openly because of the tempestuous times in Wisconsin politics.

Barca said the state should do more to make clear the prohibition against open carry in state buildings through posted signs and other means.

"The goal shouldn't be to keep this a secret," Barca said. "The goal should be to let people know about the policy so they can comply with it."

Jocelyn Webster, a spokeswoman for the Department of Administration, had no comment late Wednesday on Miller's story about being allowed to carry openly in the Capitol. She said the state was availing itself of the provisions in state law allowing property owners to decide whether to allow concealed carry on their premises.

"Obviously, there is an educational piece involved with implementing the new law. Even before recent changes in state law, open carry was prohibited in state buildings. State buildings will maintain the policy," Webster said.

Webster added that it would be considered a "criminal violation for any person who does not hold a concealed carry license to carry a firearm in buildings owned by or building space leased by the state."

Under the concealed carry law, the state cannot prohibit the carrying of firearms on the grounds outside the Capitol.

State workers

A state policy unveiled last month says that state employees are able to carry a concealed gun if they have the proper permit, though employees may be prohibited if it will interfere with their work or is prohibited in their work area.

State workers have to notify their supervisor in writing that they have a permit and intend to carry a concealed weapon before doing so. The employees must keep the weapon concealed at all times and not use it to intimidate anyone, the policy says.

Webster declined to say how many state employees have notified their supervisors that they will be carrying a concealed gun. "We do not comment on personnel matters," she said.

The Journal Sentinel has requested the information under the open records law.