Will businesses be liable for gun-related injuries?

Rep. Bob Gannon (R–Slinger) has proposed a bill requiring businesses that ban guns to pay triple damages should gun-violence injuries occur on their premises.

According to an article from jsonline.com, Gannon’s proposed “Disarmed Citizen Compensation Act” would allow citizens to defend themselves and require businesses that post signs banning weapons, or “personal self-defense devices,” to guarantee customer safety in other ways. So, if someone causes an injury — or worse — with a weapon inside a business that has a weapons-ban sign in place, the business would be liable for triple the damages to any victims.

Gannon’s bill would discourage businesses from posting signs banning guns and other weapons, which was an option of the state’s concealed carry law passed in 2011. Currently, more than 300,000 state residents hold concealed carry licenses. If they enter a business with a sign posted they could be fined up to $1,000.