Freedom From Gun Violence
Bipartisan Action and a Path Forward
Our Vision
By bridging gaps between opposing political ideologies and finding areas of agreement and common cause and acting upon those, we can remove the specter of death and ever-present violence, while preserving what is greatest about America: its freedom.
When it comes to gun violence, Wisconsin citizens agree far more than we disagree, even if we see different paths to freedom from gun violence. Would you agree that children should be safe in their schools? That suicide among our veterans and farming communities is much too high? That guns and ammo in the home should be safely stored and inaccessible to children? Do you agree that guns don't belong in the hands of violent criminals or someone in crisis (emotional, drug-related, domestic violence)? And that our streets should be safe for everyone? Here's how we can make that happen.
Wisconsin State Level
Working together, Democrats and Republicans must agree to work together to make gun ownership safer.
These are two small, easy bills in the Wisconsin legislature to support from both sides of the aisle—by working together on these easy bills, lawmakers can get to know and trust one another and work toward larger solutions. Start small:
AB 352 / SB 353 Sales tax Exemption for Gun Locks and Secure Storage - Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 35-4)
AB 173 / SB 205 Gun Store grants for Suicide Prevention - Bipartisan Bill (Republican 8-6)
US Senators, Congresspeople, Candidates
Support standardizing gun laws at the federal level. Work together with colleagues to find common ground. Look for policies with broad support and agree to make progress on those, even if it doesn't achieve every goal you or your constituents may personally support. Working together is an achievement in itself. It's the first step toward progress.
Breaking News:
"We still need assault weapons bans, we need universal background checks, we still need red flag laws and in order to get to that place we need members of the United States Congress who have the courage to take a stand. We’re not trying to take everybody’s guns away. It’s about reasonable gun safety." Interview with The Atlanta Voice, June 23, 2024
* Bumpstocks are a mechanical device that converts a legal semi-automatic rifle to a high-rate-of-fire/rapid fire weapon. A murderer used Bumpstocks on 12 of the rifles he used perpetrating the Oct. 1, 2017, Las Vegas mass shooting that killed 58 people and injured about 500 others.
Public Safety and Harm Reduction
Firearm owner safety and training
Along with secure storage of firearms, knowing how to use and maintain them safely is a must.
These are tools for hunting, sport, and self-defense and they should be handled in a way that keeps the gun owner and others in the community safe.
Keeping lawful gun owners and their families safe should also be a top priority
Particularly among farmers and veterans, suicide prevention and mental health access is very important.
Concepts that are non-starters and/or unhelpful to progress:
All-or-Nothing thinking
No-Compromises movements
Loosening concealed-carry permit requirements (data showing harms here)
Bans and restrictions for lawful gun owners (this is broadly unpopular and of questionable efficacy, at best, at preventing gun violence)
Real-world Issues Standing in the Way of Progress
Getting money out of politics (incentivizes all-or-nothing positions for fundraising)
Returning to traditional in-person filibuster rules (extreme politicians can hold the majority hostage)
Returning Civility and cooperation to the Capitol (cooperation and deal-making among well-meaning members is the bedrock of political progress)
Limiting influence and increasing transparency of special interests