State legislator joins call for state solution to Milwaukee violence

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- After a rash of weekend violence, Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Monday held a news conference, calling for an end to the violence. However, hours later, gunshots rang out in four separate shooting incidents Monday night and into Tuesday, August 6th.

The first shooting was reported around 7:30 p.m. Monday. Police say a man was shot in the chest near 25th and Concordia.

Two hours later, a man was shot in the arm near Hopkins and Locust.

Minutes later, a 17-year-old was shot near Bonny Place and Sherman.

Around midnight, a 37-year-old man was shot in the leg on 53rd Street -- between Hadley and Locust.

All four shootings were non-fatal.

Now, Chief Flynn and Mayor Barrett are again speaking out -- calling for the state to help with Milwaukee's gun violence, and now, a state legislator has joined them.

Chief Flynn and Mayor Barrett want the state to change the law, and make illegal gun possession a felony with a mandatory three-year prison term.

"It's going to happen again this Friday night. It's going to happen again this Saturday night -- and our state government is sitting on its hands," Mayor Barrett said.

FOX6 News has learned state Rep. Jon Richards (D - Milwaukee) is taking the call for action to the next level.

"If you ignore the law and then you commit a crime and have a gun that can kill people you should go to jail. There should be no debate about that. We're drafting the legislation right now," Rep. Richards said.

Rep. Richards says he is looking for bipartisan support for the measure now, and hopes it will pass by the end of the year.

"Just about everybody agrees criminals shouldn't have guns. Period. Especially if you are a convicted felon. You shouldn't have a gun. If a judge has said you shouldn't have a gun because you are involved in domestic violence, or you have been involuntarily committed -- everybody agrees you shouldn't have a gun," Rep. Richards said.

Mayor Barrett says he's working on the city budget for next year, and it will include putting more officers on the streets.

The Governor's Office previously said the Governor will review any proposed legislation when it comes to his desk.