To the editor:
In one of the worst years for gun violence in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker just weakened the state's gun laws.
Annually, 467 people lose their lives to gun violence in Wisconsin. Instead of doing the right thing, Walker signed a bill repealing the 48-hour cooling-off period for handgun purchases - days after another mass shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina where nine people lost their lives.
Walker and his Republican legislature should be working on a universal background check bill for all gun sales that would make Wisconsin safer - a bill that's supported by 80 percent of Wisconsinites including gun owners and overwhelming supported (90 percent) across this country.
Mass shootings occur way too much and shouldn't be accepted and seen as "norm." The list of mass shootings includes Sen. Gabby Giffords in Tucson (six killed), movie theater in Aurora, Colorado (12 died), UC-Santa Barbara shooting (seven killed), Fort Hood shooting (13 died), Stay family (six killed) and the unimaginable Sandy Hook School shooting where 26 people were slaughtered, including 20 children.
In our state, Erin Stoffel was critically injured and her husband Jonathan Stoffel, 33, daughter Olivia, 11, and Adam Bentdahl, 31, killed while enjoying a walk on Trestle Trail in Menasha, Sikh Temple shooting in Oak Creek (seven killed) and Brookfield salon (4 killed).
Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, domestic abusers, people who pose a high risk of violence towards themselves or others and people on the terrorist watch list while respecting the Second Amendment can happen. As an American, I'm absolutely saddened and sickened by all the gun violence in this country. The time is now to step up and do the right thing, which is passing a universal background check bill for all gun sales.
Research has shown that background checks reduce gun deaths. A study by Johns Hopkins University showed that the number of gun deaths decreased by 40 percent after a universal background check bill was signed into law in Connecticut. On the other hand, Missouri saw gun deaths increase 25 percent when this law was repealed.
As a state, are we going to keep ignoring the facts and the overwhelming support for this bill? People must call their legislators to bring bill LRB 1710 up for a vote and public hearing. We can't keep putting this life-saving bill on the back burner.
In one of the worst years for gun violence in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker just weakened the state's gun laws.
Annually, 467 people lose their lives to gun violence in Wisconsin. Instead of doing the right thing, Walker signed a bill repealing the 48-hour cooling-off period for handgun purchases - days after another mass shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina where nine people lost their lives.
Walker and his Republican legislature should be working on a universal background check bill for all gun sales that would make Wisconsin safer - a bill that's supported by 80 percent of Wisconsinites including gun owners and overwhelming supported (90 percent) across this country.
Mass shootings occur way too much and shouldn't be accepted and seen as "norm." The list of mass shootings includes Sen. Gabby Giffords in Tucson (six killed), movie theater in Aurora, Colorado (12 died), UC-Santa Barbara shooting (seven killed), Fort Hood shooting (13 died), Stay family (six killed) and the unimaginable Sandy Hook School shooting where 26 people were slaughtered, including 20 children.
In our state, Erin Stoffel was critically injured and her husband Jonathan Stoffel, 33, daughter Olivia, 11, and Adam Bentdahl, 31, killed while enjoying a walk on Trestle Trail in Menasha, Sikh Temple shooting in Oak Creek (seven killed) and Brookfield salon (4 killed).
Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, domestic abusers, people who pose a high risk of violence towards themselves or others and people on the terrorist watch list while respecting the Second Amendment can happen. As an American, I'm absolutely saddened and sickened by all the gun violence in this country. The time is now to step up and do the right thing, which is passing a universal background check bill for all gun sales.
Research has shown that background checks reduce gun deaths. A study by Johns Hopkins University showed that the number of gun deaths decreased by 40 percent after a universal background check bill was signed into law in Connecticut. On the other hand, Missouri saw gun deaths increase 25 percent when this law was repealed.
As a state, are we going to keep ignoring the facts and the overwhelming support for this bill? People must call their legislators to bring bill LRB 1710 up for a vote and public hearing. We can't keep putting this life-saving bill on the back burner.
