More than 400 people in our state are killed each year by guns. With annual firearm deaths exceeding 30,000 nationwide, families and neighborhoods everywhere are devastated daily by this violence. An appalling number of the victims are children.
Through research, education and advocacy, WAVE Educational Fund raises awareness about firearm violence throughout the state, provides up to date information to the public and to policy makers, and promotes common sense measures that will bring our state to the forefront of gun violence prevention.
The stories below provide up-to-date information about what WAVE is doing to stop gun violence, and the links above will help provide context and awareness about our campaigns. Thank you for taking an interest in our mission to end gun violence in Wisconsin.
See WAVE’s Lie-In on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel front page.
It’s been one year since the tragedy at Virginia Tech, where 32 innocent people were shot to death. Over this past year, 30,000 other Americans lost their lives to gun violence in shootings at malls, in offices, in city halls, on the streets, and in homes. Shootings happen every day, day after day. In fact, there are so many shootings that we have come to accept them as a normal part of everyday life. But there is nothing normal about the level of gun violence in our country.
No other industrialized country tolerates gun violence the way we do. And, not surprisingly, no other industrialized country suffers the consequences – the loss of life, the devastation to families, the damage to neighborhoods, the wounding of whole communities. If we continue to quietly accept gun violence, gun violence will continue. But it doesn’t have to. We can prevent gun violence. To begin, we can look to other states and other countries to find solutions that work. And, today, we make a call for those solutions to be implemented here.
“Amazing Grace” could be heard on the flute and the orange ribbons could bee seen all the way from the eight floor hallway looking down on the line that had formed on the main floor.
Hard to believe it’s been a year since a disturbed student opened fire on fellow students and teachers before taking his own life.
Speakers reminded all who would listen of the continuing violence on campuses, on the streets, and in our homes.
As the nation marks the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech Massacre, Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort is calling on Wisconsin lawmakers to help prevent future gun violence. Listen to Executive Director Jeri Bonavia on Wisconsin Radio Network.
WAVE will be hosting two press conferences and silent memorials on April 16th, the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre, to remember the victims and to call for the changes necessary to prevent future tragedies. We, and others concerned about gun violence, will gather in Milwaukee and later in Madison. We would be honored if you would join us at either location.
The truth is that unless our leaders in Madison hear from us, they will never work to prevent gun violence and address the issue of gun trafficking with sensible solutions such as requiring background checks.
Consider these important facts:
* Nearly half of all gun transactions in Wisconsin occur legally in the “secondary” gun market with no background check, no identification and no record of the sale;
* Not surprisingly, unregulated sales create a source of guns for young people, felons and others prohibited from purchasing a gun in the “primary” market;
* Approximately 90% of traced crime guns nationwide came from the “secondary” market where no background checks are conducted.
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