Milwaukee Mayor, Local Organizers Push For Background Checks On All Gun Sales

A grassroots organization and Milwaukee city leaders are calling for background checks on all gun sales, and they want lawmakers to close loopholes for private and internet firearm sales.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and members of Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America said that universal background checks are popular with Wisconsin residents.

“We can support the Second Amendment and pass common-sense gun laws,” said Leslie Harris, a volunteer with the grassroots group. “We can close loopholes that allow dangerous people to easily purchase deadly weapons.”

But Barrett said lawmakers were failing to support the measure because it’s unpopular with the National Rifle Association.

“People die because of politicians being beholden to the National Rifle Association,” Barrett said, encouraging residents to contact their local politicians to voice support of the (background) checks.

“I would argue 81 percent, 81 percent of the people of this state support a universal background check,” Barrett said. “But what’s happening is our politicians are dancing, they’re dancing around this issue.”

On Thursday, Gov. Scott Walker revealed his proposals to make schools safer. He asked state legislators to hold a special session to pass the package of proposals. Barrett and organizers said they’re supportive of the governor’s proposals, which include millions for building security.

But state Rep. Daniel Riemer, D-Milwaukee, said the bills don’t go far enough because there are no provisions for universal background checks.

“If violent criminals can get access to firearms because we don’t have universal background checks then young people aren’t safe the rest of the day,” Reimer said. “So, even with perfect school security, they are unsafe when they’re getting to and from school, when they’re out on weekends.”

The calls for universal background checks come in the same week that students nationwide walked out of class to demand a change in gun laws.