Gov. Evers creates statewide office of violence prevention

 

MADISON Wis. (CBS 58) -- Governor Tony Evers announced the creation of a statewide office to try and curb gun violence weeks after a deadly school shooting in Madison.

On Tuesday, Evers signed an executive order allocating $10 million in federal funding for the Wisconsin Office of Violence.

The announcement comes after a teacher and student were killed on Dec. 17 in a school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison.

Evers said the office will provide grants to school districts, law enforcement agencies, gun shops, nonprofits, and other local anti-violence prevention efforts such as the Milwaukee Office of Community Wellness and Safety, previously known as the Office of Violence Prevention. 

It comes as Milwaukee continues to grapple with shootings, reckless driving, and other crimes.

"Comprehensive, commonsense gun safety reform is a critical part of reducing crime, including gun violence, statewide, and this issue must be a shared priority that transcends politics and partisanship," Evers said. "We must work together to address the cycle of violence, prevent crime, and keep our kids, our families, our schools, and our communities safe."

Advocates, including the former leader of Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention Reggie Moore praised the move. 

"We see this as a down payment and the investment should reflect the scope of the problem," Moore said. "With [gun violence] being the leading cause of death in America, this should be a no-brainer."

Some GOP lawmakers questioned whether the office would be effective after Milwaukee's OVP faced scurrility in recent years following an uptick in crime during the pandemic. 

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told reporters why "duplicate something that was criticized and ineffective."

Last week, there was another shakeup at Milwaukee's Office of Community Wellness and Safety after the director Ashanti Hamilton resigned for a job in the private sector. The city is actively looking for a replacement. In 2022, Hamilton replaced Arnitta Holliman at OCWS. 

The governor also called on the GOP-controlled Legislature to consider a series of gun control and safety measures. In his upcoming state budget, Evers said he'll include a "sweeping" gun reform package without elaborating on the specifics.

Since taking office, Evers has proposed universal background checks, so-called red flag laws that temporarily remove guns from dangerous people, and other gun safety proposals but Republican opposition has blocked those efforts.

"This is not about taking guns away from people. It's about making sure they are handled safely," Evers said while touring a gun shop in Mequon. 

Statewide polling has consistently shown broad support for a series of gun control measures introduced by Democrats.

Evers called a special session in 2019 to pass background checks on all gun purchases and to implement red flag laws, but Republicans rejected those.

GOP lawmakers have instead pushed for more funding for law enforcement and school resource officers, known as SRO's.

Republican Sen. Van Wanggaaard, a former Racine police officer, was critical of Evers announcement and slammed Milwaukee Public Schools for failing to hire school resource officers.

"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 said. "He should order Milwaukee Public Schools to follow the law and hire resource officers."

It's been a year since a new law took effect requiring Milwaukee Public Schools to deploy 25 police officers, but the district has yet to comply.

Last month, Vos told CBS 58 the delay could cost MPS state funding in the upcoming state budget.