Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is urging President Donald Trump to work with Republican leaders to put forth stricter gun control measures. She says she is hopeful after the president tweeted his support for certain changes.
She does not, however, support Trump’s proposal to arm classroom teachers in the wake of a shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 dead.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin spoke about gun control during a Thursday WisPolitics luncheon in Madison. Shamane Mills/WPR
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“The first thing that the SWAT team looks for is an armed person in a classroom when they’re responding to a situation like that. It could have catastrophic, unintended consequences.” Baldwin said Thursday during a WisPolitics luncheon in Madison.
But Baldwin does support other measures the president suggested, like banning bumpstocks, having a higher minimum age for buying certain rifles and implementing tighter background checks for purchasers.
I will be strongly pushing Comprehensive Background Checks with an emphasis on Mental Health. Raise age to 21 and end sale of Bump Stocks! Congress is in a mood to finally do something on this issue – I hope!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2018
Baldwin said after years of inaction in Congress, this time may be different because students are leading the way in demanding change.
“I think we’re just seeing the start of it. And I don’t think they’re going to let go,” Baldwin said. “And I think they’re understanding the connection between their own safety and being involved in politics and that who’s in office matters.”
Madison high school students called on the state Legislature Tuesday for more gun control, and Madison high school students are also planning a walk out on March 14 to demand legislators take up control.
On Wednesday night, about 100 people gathered on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus for a vigil and silent march to the state Capitol. The vigil and march honored the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and speakers also called for policy changes.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 3:53 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 with additional reporting by WPR staff.
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