PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Governor Tony Evers has signed an executive order creating a statewide office of violence prevention. He said the office will work with local partners including law enforcement agencies, nonprofits, school districts and gun shop owners with the goal of reducing gun violence.
“At the end of the day, the state has to take a role in this. It can’t just happen at the local level,” said Evers, while taking questions from the media in Green Bay on Tuesday.
The office will also work to develop public education campaigns and promote safer communities, Evers said. It will also award grants targeting a reduction in violence, in particular gun violence, to school districts, firearm dealers, law enforcement agencies, nonprofits and government agencies.
Evers announced $10 million in federal funding for the 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.
Firearms advocates like the group, Wisconsin Firearm Owners, say mental health needs should be the focus in preventing gun violence, and are not on board with any reform being part of the budget.
“Wisconsin firearms owners really want to make sure that any new provisions are effective and that they don’t interfere with their firearms rights, but we can’t do that in the state budget which is the largest fiscal policy for the state,” said Wisconsin Firearm Owners President, Rob Kovach.
“The idea that somehow all of this is going to be taken care of with mental health services, that just isn’t accurate,” said Evers.
Creation of the office of violence prevention comes after last months school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, not far from the state Capitol.
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