The Wisconsin chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, the grassroots networks of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement applauding Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ veto of AB 293, a dangerous bill that attempted to nullify federal public safety laws in Wisconsin and prohibit state and local law enforcement officers from assisting in the enforcement of those laws.
“We are grateful to have an ally in Governor Evers, who has shown he will do what it takes to stand up and protect our state from attempts to tear away critical gun violence prevention measures,” said Lindsey Buscher, a volunteer with the Wisconsin chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Wisconsin lawmakers should be prioritizing bipartisan, common sense gun safety bills that will take real steps toward keeping us safe. It is frustrating that this dangerous bill made it so far, while bipartisan bills to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals with dangerous histories and assist with suicide prevention remain on the sidelines. Our lawmakers need to step up, and advance bills that will protect our communities from gun violence.”
Bills to nullify federal gun laws directly conflict with provisions outlined in the U.S. Constitution, but aspects of nullification laws can also have a real world effect. AB 293 would have prevented Wisconsin state and local law enforcement from assisting in the enforcement of basic public safety laws and threatened to penalize law enforcement agencies and local governments for taking steps to protect their communities from gun violence.
In an average year, 621 people are killed and 1,093 others are wounded by guns in Wisconsin. Black people in Wisconsin are 26 times as likely to die by gun homicide as white people. Gun violence costs Wisconsin $4 billion each year, of which $139 million is paid by taxpayers.
Additional information about gun violence in Wisconsin is available here, and information on how Wisconsin’s gun laws compare to other states’ overall is available here.
