On Monday, the plan was to get the concealed carry bill (SB 357) "pulled" to the senate floor for a vote. To do so would require a simple majority vote of 17 of the 33 senators. All of the concerned parties believed that there were at least 18 votes to accomplish this. The "pulling motion" was going to be done either Tuesday or on Wednesday, since the senate was scheduled to adjourn on Thursday.

At the end of the day Monday, Democrat senate majority leader Chuck Chvala pulled a trick out of his hat. He put the entire three days of senate business into Tuesday's session. He waited until the absolute last minute permissible (4:00 pm) when most of the staffers would be gone. Thus, most senate offices didn't know about this until late Tuesday morning.

This change in the senate calendar changed the rules on the number of votes required to approve a pulling motion on the bill. Instead of requiring 17 votes, a pulling motion on the last day of session would require 22 votes (two-thirds majority). There was little possibility of getting 22 votes, although the pressure would be on the "I'm all for the rights of hunters and sportsmen" politicians to live up to their promises. The fear among these so-called defenders of gun rights was almost palpable. They didn't want it to come to a vote.

So, Chuck Chvala and his lapdog, senate president Fred Risser, pulled some stunts like nobody has seen before. Early in the session, Risser promised Senator Zien that Zien would be able to bring up the concealed carry bill in the fourteenth order of business, which was the second-last order of business of the day.

When Senator Zien got his chance to speak, Chuck Chvala made a "point of order," which was nothing more than reading an HCI press release. Senate president (and Chvala lackey) Risser attempted to make that the last point of discussion on the bill. When Senator Zien attempted to respond, Risser wouldn't even acknowledge him or let him speak. At every point, Risser said he'd take comments "under advisement." When challenged by Senator Mike Ellis and others, Risser cited some senate rule 8.x.x. on the process.

Senator Bob Welch picked up the senate rule book and quoted rule 8.x.x, which really is nothing more than the dress code for senators when on the floor, and a rule governing the presence of food and beverages when on the floor. Risser said he'd take Senator Welch's concerns "under advisement."

Senator Schultz asked that Chvala's "point of order" be clarified, since it wasn't any kind of point other than a cheap shot at professor John Lott. Risser said he'd "take it under advisement." Schultz asked if this "advisement" would happen before or after the senate adjourned, and Risser said that Schultz could ask Chvala that question after the issue of concealed carry was over. Meanwhile, Chvala was snickering at the back of the chamber.

Then Chvala pulled his last stunt. He made a motion to move to the next order of business. Republican minority leader Mary Panzer objected, but Risser pretended not to hear her. She reminded him that she had objected to the motion to move on, but Risser was unmovable. He said he'd take her objection "under advisement." To go back to the previous order of business would require a roll call of the senate, and the Democrats had all mysteriously disappeared.

Finally, Chuck Chvala got what he wanted: the senate adjourned without a single vote on concealed carry, or even a discussion of concealed carry.

If all this sounds confusing, that's because it is. So here's the synopsis: Zien was promised a hearing on the bill, but never got it; Rissser cited senate rules that Bob Welch proved had nothing to do with the process at hand; and Mary Panzer's legitimate objections over the motion to move on were ignored. Chvala and Risser made sure that there was no debate, no opposing views, no votes, no proper procedural moves--in other words, our opinions as a citizen are worth nothing to them .

Is this the kind of behavior we choose to support by voting for these representatives? I thought voting was a way of representing our views through them. In my opinion, our views were violated by such childish antics.

Seth Andrew Swain

Each person can make a difference and everybody must make the effort to try.

Have a nice day.

Sincerely, Mo Hansen

Gary Bahr Belleville

Jesse the Brain

I'm tired of hearing how Chvala wants this so he won't pass that.

Both of you get off your high horses and see what you've done to this Great State.

As stated by another writer, maybe we shouldn't stop there, but Clean House from top to bottom.