The [Milwaukee Common] council's Judiciary and Legislation Committee voted 4-0 to support a bill, sponsored by state Sen. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee), that would allow Milwaukee County to create a system to regulate person-to-person gun sales. The concept is that sales between individuals would be treated the same way as sales from a gun store, in which buyers face a background check and waiting period.Alderman Jim Bohl abstained, "saying he was ambivalent about whether the change would be effective..." Shouldn't that have been cause to vote no? Even with "Mothers Against Gun Violence" pushing you? (I'd love to see Mothers for Long Prison Sentences, but it ain't gonna happen).
So what is the agenda of Mothers Against Gun Violence? They want to make it easier to file lawsuits against gun manufacturers and gun owners. Debra Fifer of MAGV told the Wisconsin State Journal her story of how her son was killed by someone using a gun. Now, not only is she pushing the Milwaukee Common Council to demand the power to track private gun sales, but she is fighting a bill in Madison to curb injury and death lawsuits against gun manufacturers, dealers, importers, "sportsmen's clubs" and owners of shooting ranges. Instead, MAGV is hoping for a bill to force gun owner registration and a record of all private sales.
As for Fifer's story, while we can mourn with her, her "solutions" will do nothing to address the problem. The killer, Jaki Marion, bought the gun "from someone on the street for $150". Because of a previous felony conviction, it was illegal for him to have possession of the gun. Obviously Marion wasn't too interested in signing his name to a form.
So the next time Fifer travels to Madison to lobby the legislature she may want to car pool with Milwaukee County assistant district attorney John Chisholm, who oversees firearms enforcement, and ask him why his office does nothing to enforce the law against current transfers of weapons to felons.
By the way, your tax dollars at work: The State Department of Administration will be hosting an event for Mothers Against Gun Violence on May 12th in the Capitol Rotunda with a display of "Victims of Homicide".
