Guns Permitted Outside RNC Despite Trump Assassination Attempt

Despite the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, firearms will remain permitted in the outer security perimeter of this week’s Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee. This decision stands following confirmation from law enforcement on Sunday night that no changes will be made to the existing security measures, despite concerns from state and local officials.

The assassination attempt, which occurred while Trump was addressing a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has heightened security concerns, but it will not alter the regulations regarding firearms in the convention area. While guns are prohibited inside the convention itself and its immediate surroundings, they are still allowed in the so-called “soft” security zone, which encompasses the broader perimeter of the convention site in downtown Milwaukee.

Efforts by city officials to enforce a ban on firearms in this outer zone were unsuccessful. Wisconsin law permits open carry of firearms and concealed carry with a license, which overrides local ordinances that might seek to ban guns. Consequently, despite attempts to restrict firearms in the area, state laws have maintained that cities cannot impose their own gun control measures.

Certain firearms and accessories, such as automatic weapons and firearm silencers, remain banned under state law, and these restrictions extend to the outer security zone. However, the overall allowance for firearms persists due to Wisconsin’s preemption laws.

Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, expressed his concerns by requesting the U.S. Secret Service to urgently revisit the decision allowing firearms at the convention. Despite this, the Secret Service, which oversees security for the event, reaffirmed on Sunday night that there would be no changes to the security plan, including the firearm regulations. Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, the Secret Service coordinator for the RNC, emphasized that the event is classified as a “national special security event,” the highest level of security designation, and thus is subject to stringent federal oversight.

While firearms remain allowed in the outer perimeter, Milwaukee officials have enacted an ordinance prohibiting various other items within this area. The ban includes lumber, large pieces of metal or plastic, paintball guns, pellet guns, swords, fireworks, drones, umbrellas with metal tips, pepper spray, adhesives, ropes, lasers, backpacks, large bags, tennis balls, canned goods, locks, coolers, non-plastic containers, light bulbs, and glass bottles. This ordinance aims to mitigate potential threats by restricting objects that could be used as weapons or pose security risks.

Local officials, particularly in the wake of the Trump assassination attempt, have voiced strong objections to the allowance of firearms. Milwaukee City Alderman Robert Bauman criticized the regulations as “utterly ridiculous,” illustrating his point by imagining a scenario where an individual carrying multiple weapons might be confronted by police over non-threatening items like tennis balls.

The RNC officially starts on Monday and will run through Thursday in Milwaukee. On Thursday, Trump is anticipated to be formally named the party’s presidential nominee and will deliver a keynote speech. Additionally, he is expected to announce his vice-presidential pick on Monday, marking the beginning of the convention.

The assassination attempt on Trump occurred on Saturday at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was shot in the ear by a bullet. The attack resulted in one fatality and two injuries. The suspect, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, is under FBI investigation. Despite the violent incident occurring just before the RNC, officials have stated that the convention will proceed as planned. Trump confirmed on Sunday morning that he would still participate in the event and arrive in Milwaukee as scheduled. The ordinance permitting firearms in the outer perimeter was enacted in June, following a narrow rejection by the city council of an effort to challenge state laws on gun regulations.