Republican Inaction on Gun Safety Fails Wisconsin
Governor Evers and legislative Democrats focus on safety while Republicans play politics
MADISON – Today, Assembly Republicans rejected Governor Evers’ call for a special session on gun safety. The special session called for universal background checks on all firearm purchases and the creation of Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO). They are also data-driven policies that have been proven to work in both red and blue states. Representative Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) released the following statement on the Republican refusal to take up these basic public safety measures:
“Today, Republicans had a chance to do something real about gun violence in our state, but instead, they ignored the issue completely and did absolutely nothing. 80 percent of Wisconsinites supported the legislation called for in the Governor’s Special Session, but instead, the Republicans ignored them and did nothing. Children are going to school in fear of mass shootings, but instead, the Republicans ignored them and did nothing.”
Since the beginning of 2018, 12 states and Washington DC have passed Extreme Risk laws, bringing the total number of states with these laws to 17. In Indiana in the 10 years after the state passed its Extreme Risk law in 2005, the state’s firearm suicide rate decreased by 7.5 percent. Similarly, in the absence of a comprehensive background check system, criminals and other prohibited persons can exploit loopholes in our state laws to obtain guns.
“Republicans tried this strategy in Virginia. They ignored their Governor’s call for a Special Session to act on gun violence and did absolutely nothing. Then this very week the Virginia Republicans lost their majorities in both houses of the legislature.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Gun Violence
- Senator Agard Introduces Firearm Safety Bills with Legislative Democratic Colleagues - State Sen. Melissa Agard, Senate Democratic Leader - Oct 26th, 2023
- AG Kaul to U.S. Attorney General Garland: Firearm Regulations Must Include Ghost Guns - Wisconsin Department of Justice - Aug 20th, 2021
- Op Ed: Legal Firearms Used in Many Mass Shootings - O. Ricardo Pimentel - May 26th, 2021
- Bipartisan legislation a positive step forward for gun reform - Mayor Cavalier Johnson - May 17th, 2021
- Bipartisan Bill Bans Guns For Those Convicted of Domestic Violence - Erik Gunn - May 14th, 2021
- Club Midtown isn’t a thing - Mayor Cavalier Johnson - May 5th, 2021
- County Executive David Crowley Statement on Recent Acts of Gun Violence - County Executive David Crowley - May 4th, 2021
- Republicans Continue to Show their True Colors with Upcoming Budget Plans: The Time for Action is Now - State Sen. Melissa Agard, Senate Democratic Leader - May 3rd, 2021
- Continued gun violence underscores the need for change - Mayor Cavalier Johnson - May 3rd, 2021
- Senator Agard: Statement on Shooting Tragedy at the Oneida Casino Complex - State Sen. Melissa Agard, Senate Democratic Leader - May 2nd, 2021
Read more about Gun Violence here
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