MADISON, Wis.—Today President Joe Biden met with mass shooting survivors and victims’ families to discuss the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which he signed into law last month. The gathering comes one week after Madison, Wisconsin was very close to being the next on a long list of communities devastated by gun violence. Despite a new Marquette Law School poll showing an overwhelming majority of Wisconsin residents support taking action on new gun safety policies, Senator Ron Johnson voted no on the historic, bipartisan law.
Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:
“Wisconsin has some of the weakest gun laws in the country, and an average of 641 Wisconsinites die by guns each year. We are also, unfortunately, no stranger to mass shootings and even came disturbingly close to another tragedy just one week ago today. Thankfully, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is taking a historic step to address the epidemic of gun violence in America. While there is certainly much more to be done, we’re grateful to our elected leaders like President Biden and Senator Tammy Baldwin for putting the people of Wisconsin first. We’re also calling on Senator Johnson to reconsider his blind loyalty to the wealthy gun lobby and instead start supporting policies that benefit Wisconsin workers and families.”
Since early 2021, Opportunity Wisconsin has been working to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.
# # #
About Opportunity Wisconsin
Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies that put the wealthy few first and leave the rest of us behind. Together, we’re demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle-class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites.
