Gun Control Advocates Excoriate Sen. Johnson

Supporters of universal background checks for gun purchases are zeroing in on a stance taken by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.).

There is now a bipartisan agreement among U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) on a measure that would require background checks for private party gun sales at gun shows and on the internet. Backers hope the deal starts Senate debate on the gun legislation.

But this week, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson joined about a dozen other conservatives in saying he would try to block any legislation that would lead to additional gun restrictions and infringe on the constitutional right to bear arms. Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn says Sen. Johnson should relax.

“I’m going to start off by commending Sen. Johnson for signing the petition that would oppose any legislation that would restrict the rights of lawful gun owners to procure firearms. I have great news for him: The bill before us, the Manchin-Toomey bill, doesn’t do that.”

Mary Kay Balchunas is the mother of a state justice department agent who was killed a few years ago by a Milwaukee man who had illegally obtained a firearm.

Balchunas says she met with Johnson in February and asked him to support common sense gun reform: “When I asked him about his own position, he said to me, ‘the gun issue is not my thing.’ Well, I beg to differ.”

Balchunas says the gun debate is every citizen’s thing. Johnson’s office released a statement this afternoon saying he is reviewing the Manchin-Toomey amendment.

Johnson says if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) moves to bring up a bill that infringes upon or threatens the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, Johnson will oppose bringing it to the floor.