Some city leaders say state is solution for Milwaukee's violence problem

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Officials, including Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan spoke out Monday following a violent weekend in the city.

Police responded to at least six shootings in less than five hours on Friday, August 2nd. In all of the weekends violence, there were 14 victims, and two did not survive.

On Saturday, near 13th and Maple, a 23-year-old man was shot and killed, and a 20-year-old man was injured.

On Sunday morning, police were on the scene of another shooting, near 13th and Maple.

Flynn, Barrett and Donovan are looking to Gov. Scott Walker and the state's Legislature for a change in-laws.

The violence came at a time when there was a lot going on in and around Milwaukee, including the National Governors Association's annual meeting in downtown Milwaukee, the Air & Water Show along Milwaukee's Lakefront, African World Festival on the Summerfest grounds, the 2013 Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis, and more.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn says there was a common thread: criminals with guns.

"Time and again, our dead people have been arrested in the past for illegal possession of a firearm. Time and again, our homicide suspects have been arrested before for illegal possession of a firearm," Chief Flynn said.

To change that, Flynn and Barrett are calling on the state's Legislature to make it a mandatory three-year jail term for those who illegally possess a gun.

In addition, they are asking for a change in law so habitual offenders can't legally buy guns. Arrests aren't enough, they say.

"It all is happening after the violence occurred. We have to find a way to make sure we're doing everything we can to reduce the violence before it occurs. That's where we desperately need the state's help," Barrett said.

Alderman Donovan sent a letter to Gov. Walker, asking for state help in rectifying Milwaukee's violence problem. He says he would like to see more police on the streets.

"It definitely will take some money, but money isn't the entire answer, but yeah. We're going to need money to begin to stabilize these neighborhoods," Donovan said.

The Milwaukee Police Department takes about 2,000 illegal guns off the streets every year.

City leaders say New York turned its problems around making illegal possession of a firearm a mandatory three-year sentence. They'd like to see that happen in Milwaukee.

Gov. Walker says he is willing to meet with Donovan.