Giffords Statement on the Announcement of a Wisconsin Special Session on Gun Safety

October 21, 2019 — Giffords, the gun safety organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement in reaction to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announcing a special legislative session to address gun safety.

Statement from Molly Voigt, state legislative manager at Giffords:

“Republicans told supporters of gun safety legislation to go away. Meanwhile, Gov. Evers told lawmakers to get to work. He recognizes that the legislature can’t sit idly by while someone is killed by a gun every 15 hours in Wisconsin. Starting with background checks and an extreme risk order, we hope Republican leaders come to the table to have a serious discussion about passing initiatives that can keep Wisconsinites safe.”

The latest edition of the Giffords Law Center  Annual Gun Law Scorecard  found that Wisconsin received a “C-” for the strength of its gun laws. This comprehensive, 50-state analysis clearly shows fewer people die from gun violence in states with strong gun laws. Wisconsin marginally improved its gun safety laws in 2018 by making it a crime to purchase a firearm with the intent to transfer it to someone prohibited from possessing it. In order to improve its grade from a C-, Wisconsin should enact universal background checks, require waiting periods for all firearm sales, and regulate unsafe handguns.