MADISON, Wis. – Today, in the shadow of high profile shootings across the U.S., Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler and State Representatives Deb Andraca and Kalan Haywood condemned the NRA’s State Conference happening this weekend in Brookfield.
“I join my Democratic colleagues and I join so many Wisconsinites in condemning the National Rifle Association, the NRA, and its refusal to support measures that their own membership would want to see in place, that would prevent tragedy, would prevent bloodshed and death,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Wikler.
“This weekend, the NRA will have a convention in Wisconsin. And it’s time Republicans ask themselves, what exactly is the NRA doing for communities in Milwaukee who are struggling from gun violence? The NRA has worked long and hard to reverse practical gun safety measures and their guns everywhere agenda makes every single Wisconsin neighborhood less safe,” said State Representative Andraca. “The Republican majority in our state Legislature refused to even consider reasonable, evidence-based gun laws and by refusing to hold any public hearings on these measures, they deny Wisconsinites a voice in their elected government.”
“We need you to go out and vote and get engaged. We need you to vote for candidates nationally and locally who will stand up and support gun safety laws,” said State Representative Haywood. “I need you to go vote for the only governor candidate on the ballot who will work to fight and push for gun safety. I need you to vote for Governor Tony Evers.”
Republicans running for governor oppose most efforts to make Wisconsinites safer from gun violence. Rebecca Kleefisch, Kevin Nicholson, and Tim Ramthun all support permitless gun carry, a measure that 76% of Wisconsinites oppose. Tim Michels again and again refuses to comment on how to make Wisconsinites safer from gun violence, and when asked about the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan gun safety package, which is even supported by Mitch McConnell, said only, “It’s not the guns, it’s a cultural problem today, and a lot of it is a byproduct of the whole ‘defund the police’ movement.”
Governor Tony Evers wants to uphold the rights of Wisconsin gun owners, while also keeping people safe. Gov. Evers has supported common-sense action on universal background checks and red flag laws, both measures that are widely popular. Republicans like Rebecca Kleefisch and Tim Michels have refused to put forward any serious ideas to address gun safety. By contrast, Wisconsin Democrats are facing the issue head on.
