Gun Control Activists Hold Rally Outside State Capitol

467 Shoes Placed On Capitol Steps Represent Victims Of Gun Violence

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467 pairs of shoes lined the steps of the Capitol on Monday to represent victims of gun violence in the state. Photo: Gilman Halsted/WPR News.

Activists placed 467 pairs of shoes on the steps of the state Capitol on Monday to symbolize the average number of gun-related deaths in the state each year.

The action was part of a demonstration led by the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, a Milwaukee-based gun control advocacy group. WAVE is currently on five-city tour to call on voters to ask candidates in the November election to support universal background checks for all gun sales.

Jeri Bonavia, who heads WAVE, told a crowd of about 50 people who turned out for the event that a change in state law could reduce the carnage those shoes represent.

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“We need background checks on all gun sales,” said Bonavia. “The fact that we have not passed that law, even though there is evidence that proves it will save lives, is shameful.”

State Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, authored a background check law in the last session. The bill never got a hearing, because, according to Berceau, it was blocked by people who fear the law would violate their right to own a gun. It’s a fear she said is unreasonable.

“We cannot let those who have an unreasonable fear of government, an unreasonable fear of their neighbors, some unknown people who might break into their home … rule us,” said Berceau. “Fear of children dying, fear of women dying who are victims of domestic violence, teens dying of suicide — that’s what we should fear.”

Law enforcement officials also support expanding background checks. Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said that the number of young people who die each week from gun violence is reason enough to treat such deaths as a public health issue.

“If 13 young people lost their lives every 24 hours because of a devastating disease, you can bet everybody in this Capitol, no matter what their political persuasion was, would be demanding a quick response and cure,” said Mahoney.

The most recent gun deaths in the state were both in Milwaukee: A 26-year-old woman died in drive by shooting on Saturday and a 48-year-old man was shot at 10 :15 a.m. on Monday.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of a Wisconsin Public Radio year-long series tracking all gun-related homicides in Wisconsin.