In the aftermath of the tragic school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Governor Tony Evers has introduced a sweeping set of initiatives aimed at addressing gun violence and ensuring safer communities across Wisconsin. Speaking at a press conference, Evers described the unthinkable loss of life, emphasizing the urgent need for statewide action to prevent similar tragedies.
Evers announced the creation of the Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention through Executive Order. The office will adopt a comprehensive approach to violence prevention, bridging the efforts of state and local agencies, law enforcement, schools, and community organizations. To ensure the office can start its work immediately, $10 million in federal funding will be allocated to support its initiatives, which range from school-based programs to suicide prevention and gun buyback efforts.
The announcement follows a troubling increase in gun deaths across Wisconsin over the past decade. While other violent crime rates have shown signs of decline, Evers pointed to gun violence as a persistent issue requiring “bipartisan solutions.”
“This is a moment for action,” Evers stated. “We cannot accept gun violence as a foregone reality. The Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention will take a statewide approach to ensure no family, school, or community endures this kind of tragedy again.”
The governor’s proposal also includes a robust set of measures in his 2025-27 budget, described as his most comprehensive gun safety reform effort to date. These reforms aim to address community safety and reduce crime through a mix of grant programs, technical assistance, and public education campaigns.
Republican lawmakers have generally emphasizing a different approach to curbing violence—one that prioritizes increased funding for law enforcement and school resource officers (SROs). Senator Van Wanggaard, a former Racine police officer, criticized Evers aiming at Milwaukee Public Schools for failing to comply with a year-old law requiring the deployment of 25 police officers, calling it a blatant disregard for public safety. Wanggaard argued that strengthening law enforcement’s role, rather than expanding government offices, is the key to reducing crime. “If Governor Evers is serious about ending violence and crime, he should support law enforcement and give them the tools and resources they need,” Wanggaard stated. He also pointed to Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention, claiming its ineffectiveness in addressing local violence undermines the governor’s new statewide initiative.
Speaker Robin Vos has said the Assembly will not support any state funding for he proposed office.
The Board of Education refuses prayer in school. There exists a vacuum in teaching and emphasizing morals and virtue. That void is filled with evil. Go back to raising kids in the manner that they were in the 1950s. Christian and 2 parent home values were the driver then instead of this woke garbage.
This is a boondoggle. Ever notice that shootings are in gun free zones? Ever wonder why? Get rid of gun free zones. This $$$ can be better spent elsewhere.
Someone killed someone else. Is that true?
Since you agree that that is what happened, then you can’t say a gun killed someone. A person killed someone.
A gun is an inantimate object. It has no power on it’s own. Go to the source of the problem. It’s not the gun. People use vehicles to kill others with. Are you going to confiscate all vehicles?
A person that wants to kill, will kill regardless.
Try using common sense for a difference.