Barrett, Flynn Back Minimum Sentences For Repeat Offenders Caught With Guns

Milwaukee’s mayor and police chief are backing a bill they say will help end the gun violence in the city, though the measure faces opposition from some state senators.

The bill would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of three to five years in prison on anyone caught with a gun who already has a violent crime on their record. The bill has already passed the Assembly but it could face opposition from both sides of the aisle in the Senate.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said locking up repeat violent offenders who use guns will have an impact.

“He committed a violent crime, and he’s using a gun to commit another crime,” said Barrett. “Is there deterrence? As long as he’s sitting in prison there’s deterrence.”

Police Chief Ed Flynn agrees, saying the current system doesn’t deter repeat offenders. He said that such offenders aren’t a large population, but that they do “stunning damage” to communities.

But both Sens. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, and Van Wangaard, R-Racine, say there’s no guarantee the district attorney’s office won’t plea bargain with such defendants and reduce charges.

Taylor said there are already laws on the books that will get the most violent criminals off the streets if state and federal prosecutors cooperate. She’s urging the city to adopt what she calls data-driven policies that will improve relations between the police and the community.

Flynn said such programs are underway, but asserted that the mandatory minimum law is needed to get the worst actors off the streets.