MADISON — Sen. Kelda Roys and Rep. Brienne Brown announced legislation today to prohibit firearms from campuses around the state at a press conference in the state capitol. This is one of many pieces of legislation introduced by Legislative Democrats to address gun safety. As of August 27th, there is not a single Republican cosponsor on any of these proposals.
Current law stipulates that any person carrying a firearm in public or privately owned university buildings is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. However, individuals with licenses to carry a concealed weapon are exempt from this rule. Under this bill, university campuses will be afforded the same gun-free zones as our K12 campuses.
State Senator Kelda Roys issued the following statement:
“As students return to campus, gun violence is top of mind for students who have grown up in a country that has not done enough to prevent gun violence. Our goal is to ensure that college campuses have the same gun-free protections as K12 schools, prohibiting guns on school grounds. I am proud to author this legislation alongside students, faculty, and staff at higher ed institutions around the state. It is part of a broader effort to reduce firearm injuries and deaths, and to ensure that everyone has the freedom to live without the fear of gun violence.”
Rep. Brienne Brown issued the following statement:
“Wisconsin is one of eleven states in the nation that allows concealed carry on public college campuses. Even red states, like Florida, Alabama, and Ohio have banned all guns on public university grounds. A majority of students, faculty, university leadership, university police and security oppose guns on campus. We need to listen to the people directly impacted by policies like this. Banning concealed carry on college campuses is not a radical idea. This is a simple, common sense step that has brought together Democrats and Republicans all over the country.”
