by Peggy Schulz
The Wisconsin Way Is Not
Neighbor Armed Against Neighbor
Jeri Bonavia, like a lot of Wisconsinites, is suffering from “issue fatigue.” There are
so many vitally important issues roiling around in Madison right now, Bonavia says she hesitates before opening her e-mail each day, wondering what shoe is going to drop next.
As Executive Director of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort Educational Fund (WAVE), the issue that’s now foremost on Bonavia’s agenda is the same one that’s held that position for years – gun violence.
The variety of legislation being bandied about in Madison this year has her urging Wisconsin citizens, especially in
neighborhoods like Riverwest, to adopt her same priorities and share those with their legislators.
Because, as Bonavia points out, while all of the issues are important and affect the quality of our lives, there is only one that
is truly life and death – that’s concealed carry. “It challenges us, our way of life, the way we live amongst each other,” Bonavia says. “One of my favorite things about Wisconsin, when you walk down the street, it’s almost like people have the
attitude, ‘There, that stranger there is a friend in waiting. We’re probably going to be friends if we just talk’.”
If any version of a concealed carry law passes, Bonavia believes that positive Wisconsin trait is going to end. “Now
we’re going to be armed against each other, we’re ready to find enemies out there, instead of being ready to find
friends.”
To put things in some perspective, Bonavia sums it up:
“If a bill like the ones being proposed now gets passed,
it will be easier to carry a gun in public, legally, than
it will be to vote [assuming the voter ID bill
also is enacted into law]. It will be easier
to carry a gun in public legally than it is to
drive. And it will even be easier to carry a
gun in public than it is to check out a book
from a library.”
Bonavia is being practical when she
urges residents to contact their elected
representatives now, even though the
concealed carry legislation hasn’t been
determined yet and there are multiple bills
floating out there.
“Even if you feel your legislator already is
supportive of your views,” she adds, “there are
so many different things going on, legislators
are being torn in fifty different directions.
They won’t realize this is a top priority unless
they hear from their constituents.”
Bonavia believes it’s especially important
for city residents to speak out because the
National Rifle Association (NRA) has alleged
a somewhat peculiar motivation in pushing
to allow concealed carry without a permit
– so-called “constitutional carry.” The NRA
claims people living in higher crime areas,
especially urban neighborhoods, want to
protect themselves by carrying a concealed
weapon. The NRA would have us think,
apparently, that there are great numbers of
urban folks who want to leave their homes
“packing,” but who can’t afford the cost of
the training classes that a gun permit would
require.
Bonavia counters with this: “Typically, the
people who are saying this is an important
tool for people who live in urban settings are
people who don’t live in urban settings.”
It’s really important that all concerned
citizens make their feelings known, Bonavia
says, because instead of our legislators
listening to their constituents, they’re
listening to this very powerful special
interest group, the NRA.
“And the interest of that group is not truly
public safety, so we end up with really bad
public policy,” Bonavia says. “What we’re
seeing with concealed weapons bills, there’s
no real pretending that they’re [the NRA]
trying to do this in a way that would ensure
public safety.”
Bonavia points out the NRA frequently talks
about how 48 other states allow citizens to
carry concealed weapons, but what they’re
not saying is how very radical and extreme
the bills are that are being circulated in
Wisconsin right now, how they differ from
most other states.
Legislators introduced these most extreme
versions of gun laws because Republicans
have control over both houses of the
legislature and the governor’s seat, Bonavia
says.
“They feel like they don’t even need to try
and compromise and get some common
sense elements out there. They’re promoting
the bill exactly the way the NRA wants it. In
most states, the NRA has to at least pretend
they’re doing something in response to the
will of the people.
“Unfortunately, the legislators haven’t
stepped in and said, ‘Whoa, wait a minute, I
still have some accountability to the people of
this state, I’m still charged with looking out
for the interests of the people of Wisconsin,’”
Bonavia adds.
If you have an opinion about guns in the city,
concealed carry or unlicensed guns on the
streets, contact your legislators.
State Representative Elizabeth Coggs, 10th Assembly
District Room 409 North • State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952• Madison, WI 53708
Telephone: 608-266-0960
E-mail: Rep.Coggs@legis.wi.gov
State Representative Leon Young, 16th Assembly District
Room 123 West •
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8953 • Madison, WI 53708
Telephone: 608-266-3786 or 888-534-0016
E-mail: Rep.Young@legis.wisconsin.gov
State Senator Lena Taylor, 4th Senate District
Room 20 South • State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882 8 Madison, WI 53707-7882
Telephone: 608-266-5810
E-mail: Sen.Taylor@legis.wisconsin.gov
State Senator Spencer Coggs, 6th Senate District Room
109 South • State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882 • Madison, WI 53707-7882
Telephone: 608-266-2500 or 877-474-2000E-mail: Sen.
Coggs@legis.wisconsin.gov