Wisconsin Groups Put Heat On Washington To Pass Gun Control Legislation

Mayors Against Illegal Guns and other groups are demanding that Congress act on legislation they say could lessen gun violence.

Congress is on break, but supporters of gun legislation are hoping members will get lots of email and phone calls when they return. In Milwaukee, Mayor Tom Barrett took part in a national effort to pressure lawmakers to act: “Call your senator and let them know that you support background checks and share this with your family and friends. We need to make our voices heard.”

State and national polls indicate citizens want to strengthen background checks. The National Rifle Association does not. The group also opposes a ban on assault rifles and large-capacity magazines. Madison Representative Terese Berceau supports such bans, but says votes in Congress would be hard to get: “We have to give them a chance to develop a backbone on something that is very important and polls well with their constituents. So let’s take this first step.”

Public officials and first responders in Madison and Milwaukee gave grim examples of gun violence. Milwaukee Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing said paramedics and firefighters respond to over 300 gunshot wounds every year: “These men and women are saving lives every day. Too often, though, we are witnessing death and disability due to firearm injuries.”

In Madison, Mayor Paul Soglin says violence in the home accounts for many gun-related crimes.

“And so we may not have some of the gang-related problems that we see to the degree in Chicago, for example, but tragically we had some very disturbed people involved in domestic violence.”

Yesterday, over 100 events were held across the country to push for legislation addressing gun violence.