MILWAUKEE — As Milwaukee prepares for the Republican National Convention in July, there are questions on certain restrictions that will be enforced on the outer perimeter.
Robert Bauman is Milwaukee’s 4th District Alderman—his district includes much of downtown Milwaukee. He said the Milwaukee Common Council is being asked to approve a file that lists items people can’t bring into the security zone, just outside of the RNC’s hard perimeter.
“Among the list of items were things like you couldn’t possess tennis balls, you couldn’t possess sticks that you would attach a sign to, you couldn’t possess no plastic water bottles, you couldn’t possess fake guns, bb guns, pellet guns,” said Alderman Bauman.
He said this list, however, does not include firearms.
“So the question was raised. So does this actually allow people to be armed within the security zone that was established by the police and established by the secret service and according to our city attorney, the answer is yes,” said Bauman.
Spectrum News received a statement from the U.S. Secret Service that stated:
“The U.S. Secret Service does not permit weapons of any kind to be brought into the inner security perimeter for national special security events, with the exception of working law enforcement officers. The Secret Service will release a prohibited items list for the inner perimeter once it is finalized.”
The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives people the right to bear arms and Wisconsin is an open-carry state.
Spectrum News caught up with Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson at an event on Milwaukee’s north side to get his thoughts, since the city of Milwaukee is responsible for the outer perimeter security.
“There is a conflict though with state law because today, I mean, you can go on the sidewalk where we are right now and have a long gun because we are an open carry state so that is what I think we are up against right now the reality of state law and how it intersects with the RNC,” said Mayor Johnson.
Even so, Bauman said he believes the law isn’t specific to events like the RNC.
“The legislative intent was never to apply to a national security event of the scale of a national political party convention,” said Alderman Bauman.
Alderman Bauman said the file of restrictions is expected to be heard as soon as next week by the Public Safety and Health Committee.