The Wisconsin chapter of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement after 8 people were wounded in a shooting at the Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this devastating shooting,” said Andrea Fischer, a volunteer with the Wisconsin chapter of Moms Demand Action in Wauwatosa. “We’ll fight harder than ever for a safer Wisconsin, and it’s past time for our lawmakers to finally join us in that fight.”
Last November, the leaders of both the Wisconsin Assembly and the Wisconsin Senate ended special sessions on gun violence shortly after gaveling them in. In the subsequent year, Wisconsin has seen an estimated 600 people die by guns, and more have been wounded – in mass shootings, instances of domestic gun violence, community gun violence, gun suicide, and police gun violence. But after Kenosha police shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back several times as he was getting into a car with his three children, Republican leadership adjourned another special session without taking any action to address police violence. During protests following the police shooting, three people were shot, two fatally, by a white 17-year-old from Illinois who reportedly associated with a militia group.
Wisconsin has weak gun laws. Wisconsin has no law requiring background checks on unlicensed gun sales. The existing state laws prohibiting domestic abusers from possessing guns are dangerously incomplete. Wisconsin also has no Extreme Risk law to allow family members and law enforcement to petition for the removal of guns from dangerous situations.
In an average year, nearly 600 people die by guns in Wisconsin. More information about gun violence in Wisconsin is available through EveryStat here.