Supervisor Martin Statement on Hosting Gun Shows at Milwaukee County Sports Complex
MILWAUKEE – Today the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted to reject (13-3 ) a proposal by Supervisors Patti Logsdon, Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, and Felesia A. Martin to allow Milwaukee County to host gun shows at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex. Supervisor Martin voted in favor of the proposal and released the following statement on her vote.
“It is most unfortunate that we are faced with mass shootings right before the Milwaukee County Board takes up a measure to permit gun shows at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex. We are raw with emotions and some residents have been traumatized or retraumatized by recent events which have led many to question, ‘why are we considering allowing gun shows at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex?’
“I represent a diverse population. My constituents want to have equal access to gun shows to learn how to safely use and store weapons, learn how to rock climb, hunt, and fish just like suburban and rural residents.
“While I support this resolution, I also support universal background checks, banning all military assault weapons, banning extended magazine clips and requiring a federal firearms license (FFL) for private sellers at gun shows. I also support a three-business day hold until all gun sales are finalized, to ensure a thoroughly vetted background check.
“This gun show had been held at the Sports Complex for several years since the 2012 resolution banning guns from County facilities. We must ask a few questions. If the gun show was permitted since 2012, what makes this year different? Was there a sunset date for permitting the gun show? Were any laws violated in past years? How do we define a ‘private seller’?
“Hopefully, moving forward we can have more thoughtful and deliberative discussions around this issue and see bipartisan action from state and federal legislators on commonsense gun laws.
“I would prefer to have stronger gun safety laws in place at these gun shows such as requiring all private sellers to have FFL and requiring background checks. However, Robin Vos and the Republican controlled Wisconsin State Legislature took this local control away from the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.
“We must restore local control in Wisconsin.”
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.
Mentioned in This Press Release
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