Gov. Tony Evers today issued an executive order calling a special session of the Legislature starting Nov. 7 to deal with gun violence.

Evers’ order calls on lawmakers to take up “red-flag” law legislation and a bill to create universal background checks.

But Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, pledged his chamber “will not be part of a drawn-out strategy to infringe on constitutional rights.”

“Liberals across the country are upping their rhetoric in support of taking guns from law-abiding citizens,” he said in a release. “After the governor opened the door to a long-term plan of gun confiscation at his press conference last month, it’s easy to see how today’s action could just be the first attack on the Second Amendment.”

While Evers can call the special session, he doesn’t have the power to force lawmakers to vote on the bills. GOP legislative leaders have indicated they don’t plan to take up the legislation.

“Since taking office in January, I have called on the Legislature to take action and pass commonsense gun safety reform time and time again, giving Republican leadership the opportunity to hear the people of our state and to do the right thing,” Evers said. “Today I am delivering on my promise to call a special session to address gun violence across our state and I’m calling on Republicans to work with Democrats to get this done.”

See the executive order:
https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/191021EO.pdf 

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