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.

One example is requiring criminal background checks prior to all gun sales. Currently in Wisconsin, we make it as easy as possible for criminals to get guns. In fact, in nearly half of all gun sales in Wisconsin, we use no screening system whatsoever. Sales are completed with no paperwork, no identification, and no criminal background check. If we want to prevent bad guys from getting guns, at very least, we must stop allowing these anonymous, no-questions-asked transactions. Conducting background checks prior to all gun sales is the type of solution that will work, and it’s the type of solution that the vast majority of citizens support, including the vast majority of gun owners and NRA members.

I’d like to emphasize that it’s not gun owners standing in the way of smart solutions. The problem is a small, but vocal, group of extremists who are fighting for solutions that are fear-based instead of evidence-based. Their idea of a solution is issuing a call to arms — arm the teachers, arm the city council members, arm the shoppers, arm the students. What they are claiming is that more guns equal less crime. But think about it: If more guns equaled less crime, then with our 270 million privately owned guns, enough guns to arm 90% of the population, America would be the safest country on the planet. But we’re not. Not even close. Trying to end gun violence with more guns is about as foolish as trying to extinguish a fire with a bucket of gasoline. It just doesn’t make sense.

It’s our job to work for real solutions. Let’s start by demanding more leadership and assistance from our elected officials. Right now, far too many of our leaders spend far too much time talking about how they’re going to stand up for gun rights, about how they’re going to fight to protect guns, as though guns are an endangered species. If they want to protect gun rights that’s fine, but they shouldn’t use that as an excuse to ignore their duty to promote public safety.

Protecting gun rights is not a substitute for preventing gun violence. And, if we have elected officials who can’t seem to understand that protecting our kids is at least as important as protecting our gun rights, then it’s our job to elect people who do understand—people who will make a commitment to work with us to create safer communities.
We are grateful to all of the people who have already made that commitment.

Statement to the Participants
Living in a country wracked by gun violence is the shame of our past and of our present. But it does not have to be our destiny; it does not have to be the legacy we leave to our children and grandchildren. That’s why we’re here.
Yesterday, we received a note from the Virginia Tech families. They asked us to tell you how very grateful they are that so many people are willing to fight to protect our children and public safety. They wrote that this past year has been very difficult and painful, but that they are uplifted by what you are doing right now.

So today, we are wearing ribbons made by the friends and families of the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy as a sign that we are sharing their sorrow. We will lie down in silence to grieve for all of the victims guns have silenced. But, after that, we will stand up, with a renewed commitment to never again quietly tolerate gun violence.

MILWAUKEE-They wore ribbons made for them by the famlies of the shooting victims and survivors.

One by one and side by side members of Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort took part in a ‘Lie Down’ tribute.

“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.

Following a short press conference, 32 citizens will form a straight line and then, one by one, lie down on the floor of the rotunda for several minutes. Each of the participants will dress in black and wear a ribbon that has been made by the victims’ families and the survivors of the Virginia Tech tragedy. The number of participants mirrors the number of victims at Virginia Tech; it also, coincidentally, reflects the number of Americans who are murdered with guns each day in this country.

These simple and dignified demonstrations will occur nationwide on April 16. All across the country, citizens will be expressing their sadness and outrage that, one year after Virginia Tech, little has been done to prevent future mass shootings on college campuses, in shopping malls, in churches and elsewhere.

We deeply appreciate your commitment to preventing gun violence in Wisconsin, and we truly hope you will be able to join us to help draw much-needed attention to this critically important issue. It is very important that we know if you plan to attend one or both of these events. Each will involve 30 to 45 minutes of your time. Please call us for details. (414) 351-9283.

Join us at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn to listen to great music and to help prevent gun violence.
Sunday, May 25, 2008

Linneman’s Riverwest Inn: PEACE THROUGH MUSIC
The Music of John Lennon

Enjoy local bands as they pay tribute to John Lennon
and help raise awareness about the gun violence epidemic.

7:00pm
1001 E. Locust St.
Milwaukee

Cover charge
&
Raffle

CALL WAVE for more info:
(414) 351-9283

Click here to see more images about Jim’s Gun Supply.

Watch Milwaukee Fox News Channel 6 video of WAVE and Mayor Barrett’s press conference.

Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort called the actions of a Baraboo, Wisconsin gun dealer, ‘Jim’s Gun Supply’, grossly irresponsible for painting deadly military-style assault rifles and handguns with bright colors, designs and insignias to make lethal weapons look like children’s toys. Jim’s’ Gun Supply even painted “Hello Kitty” onto a gun. Law enforcement officials and child safety advocates called Jim’s Gun Supply’s actions immoral for endangering the lives of children.

“Jim’s Gun Supply’s actions are completely and utterly reprehensible,” said Jeri Bonavia, Executive Director of Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort.

“Children are already curious and fascinated enough by guns, and the spate of children dying in gun tragedies is proof. By creating a business to make deadly guns look like toys, Jim’s Gun Supply has created a looming tragedy for a family who owns one of these products.”

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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