Gov. Walker asks state attorney general to challenge President Obama's gun control plan
MADISON — Governor Scott Walker is asking Wisconsin's attorney general to challenge President Barack Obama's gun control plan.
Walker said in a statement Wednesday, January 6th that he believes Obama overstepped his authority when he announced an executive action to expand mandatory background checks to gun shows, flea markets and online sales.
Walker's statement reads as follows:
"President Obama is again disregarding the Constitutional principles of separation of powers and exceeding his authority as Chief Executive. The Obama Administration issued guidance creating uncertainty and fear of prosecution for law-abiding citizens who wish to exercise their right to sell firearms lawfully. Forthcoming federal rules could also deprive millions of Americans of their Second Amendment rights without any indication of imminent danger.
I have asked the Attorney General to review this proposed rule language as soon as it is made available and, if issued as reported, to take any and all legal measures available to challenge this illegal act."
Walker says Obama's announcement has created uncertainty and fear for law-abiding citizens who want to sell guns and could deprive millions of Americans of their right to bear arms without any indication of imminent danger.
He called the plan an illegal act. He asked Attorney General Brad Schimel to review the plan as soon as it's released and to take any and all legal measures to challenge it.
Attorney General Schimel issued this statement:
“Public safety and preventing gun violence are among my chief concerns as attorney general. We must as a state take steps to more effectively enforce our existing gun laws. Any changes to the law, however, must be made with care to ensure proper legal process is followed and to avoid impairing the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. It appears that President Obama once again intends to act unilaterally to restrict the 2nd Amendment and subvert the legislative process by issuing yet another executive order. I have asked my legal team to review the proposed rules as soon as they are published and then we will determine our next steps to ensure the constitutional rights of law-abiding Wisconsin citizens are not violated.”