Despite the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, firearms will remain allowed outside the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, which is set to begin Monday evening.
Wisconsin state law permits firearms in the “soft” security zone, or the outer perimeter, of the downtown Milwaukee convention area, where 50,000 people are expected to gather for the four-day event.
Some restrictions are in place, however. Machine guns, fully automatic firearms, and silencers are not permitted within the outer perimeter. Additionally, guns are not allowed inside the convention or in the event’s “inner perimeter.”
Efforts by some city officials to ban guns in the outer zone were unsuccessful, as they could not override Wisconsin’s open and concealed carry laws, which prevent cities or towns from creating their own gun regulations.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers requested the U.S. Secret Service on Sunday to prohibit guns in the outer perimeter following the shooting on Saturday, but his plea is unlikely to succeed.
A U.S. Secret Service spokesperson noted that the agency has no authority over local gun laws.
Former President Trump stated over the weekend that he did not want to postpone the convention despite the assassination attempt. Officials have expressed confidence in the preparedness and security of the city for the convention.
Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming confirmed on Sunday that “everything for the convention is going on as planned.” Schimming expressed no concerns about security despite the assassination attempt.
“We are all praying and thinking about the victims. And we will have a convention very, very focused, moving towards the future of this country with Donald Trump,” he said.