Wisconsin office of violence prevention; Evers signs executive order

MEQUON, Wis. - Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday signed an executive order to establish a new statewide office of violence prevention.

Wisconsin office of violence prevention

What we know:

The Wisconsin office of violence prevention would give grants to school districts, firearms dealers, nonprofits, law enforcement and government agencies to support violence reduction initiatives.

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

The office will also work to develop public education campaigns and promote safer communities, Evers said. He also spoke about potential gun reform.

"It isn’t about taking guns away," Evers said. "It’s about making sure they are handled safely."

Evers said $10 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds is dedicated to the new office. He said his state budget that will be submitted to the Legislature next month will request more state funding to continue the office over the next two years.

What they're saying:

Violence is a scenario that caused Cheryle Rebholz to start Bear Arms, an indoor boutique shooting range. Evers toured the Mequon facility as he highlighted its emphasis on gun safety.

"We should be supporting gun owners and people that teach gun use in the right way," he said. 

Evers' executive order hopes to ensure a whole-of-government approach to violence prevention.

"It’s important to protect each other during this time," he said.

Evers, a Democrat, also called on the Republican-controlled Legislature to pass a series of gun control and public safety measures, saying reducing violence should be a "shared priority that transcends politics."

The other side:

Not everyone is giving the governor kudos.

"How many times do we have to continue doing the same thing and not getting good results that you continue doing," said State Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine).

Wanggaard said the office is a duplicate of previous initiatives, like Milwaukee's Office of Community Wellness and Safety. He said efforts would be better dedicated to law enforcement, school resource officer vacanices and fine-tuning efforts that are already in place.

Featured

article

Ashanti Hamilton, Milwaukee violence prevention lead, to resign

Ashanti Hamilton, director of Milwaukee's Office of Community Wellness and Safety, will resign on Jan. 21. FOX6 News obtained a letter and an audit.

"If the governor could bring anything forward, I would say it's about getting people together to just have a conversation,' he said.

The backstory:

Wisconsin polls have repeatedly shown high public support for a variety of gun control measures.

The Legislature has already rejected numerous gun control measures put forward by Evers, including universal background checks for gun purchases. But Evers said the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School last month demonstrated the need for lawmakers to act.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android.

Shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, Madison

Evers in 2019 called a special session of the Legislature to pass a universal gun background check bill and a "red flag" proposal that would allow judges to take guns away from people determined to be a risk to themselves or others. Republicans immediately adjourned without debating the measures. It was the first of a dozen special sessions Evers has called since 2019, none of which have been successful.

Democrats have reintroduced those and more than two dozen other gun safety bills over the past six years, but Republicans have repeatedly refused to take them up. Republicans, instead, have introduced bills that would expand access to guns and discussed arming teachers. Evers in 2022 vetoed Republican bills that would have allowed holders of concealed carry permits to have firearms in vehicles on school grounds and in churches located on the grounds of a private school.