Congressman Sensenbrenner Wants to Handcuff Mayors and Cops, Keeping Them from Using Gun Crime Trace Data, Says Wisconsin Group
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 14 — A “crybaby” huh?
Those were the words used by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-5th) against Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who called on Congress to oppose a slate of federal bills that would prevent law enforcement agencies from accessing gun crime trace data, making it much more difficult to stop criminal gun trafficking.
The crime trace data is absolutely essential for law enforcement agencies working to stop illegal trafficking. They use the data to find out where illegal guns are coming from and to break up those illegal channels.
“A ‘crybaby’? For trying to stop illegal gun trafficking? Could Congressman Sensenbrenner be any more out of touch with his constituents?” said Jeri Bonavia, executive director of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort.
Mayor Tom Barrett has led the charge to stop illegal guns from flowing in to Milwaukee’s neighborhoods. In contrast, Sensenbrenner’s method of addressing gun violence is to strip law enforcement of the tools it needs to stop criminal trafficking.
“Besides the gun lobby, whose side is Congressman Sensenbrenner on?” said Bonavia. “He’s not on the side of law enforcement. And, he sure isn’t on the side of young victims of gun violence, such as 13-year-old, honor student Candace Moss, who was tragically killed by a stray bullet.”
Bonavia added, “Who among us hasn’t felt grief-stricken by the death of Candice Moss and all the other young, innocent victims of gun violence? Are you calling all of us crybabies? Crying for our babies is more like it, Congressman.”