Guns: The Debate in Wisconsin Part 1

(WFRV) - Recent shooting tragedies have sparked a movement for more gun control and state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are taking hard stances.

As a victim in the 2011 Tuscson Mall shooting, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords ad is part of a larger campaign bringing attention to this issue by airing a new advertisement that begins, "We have a problem.  Where we shop; where we pray; where our children go to school."

Following the Connecticut Elementary School shooting that left 26 people dead, President Obama is pushing for more stringent gun control laws--such as enforcing mandatory background checks and banning assault weapons.   

Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwinsaid, "I applaud the President and Vice President for bringing forward a large array of array of policy options and recommendations to the Congress."

Gov. Scott Walker,said "Anytime someone is at risk we have a moral responsibility to act on that.  But that goes to the heart of the evil that is inherent in the person, not in which the tool they are using."

 "I truly do not believe there is a solution that lies within Washington coming from the federal government," said Republican Sen. Ron Johnson.

Recent polls show 9 out of 10 gun owners support background checks. 

Buyers purchasing a gun through a private vendor, at a gun show, or online are not required to undergo a background check.  

Private gun sales make up 30-40% of total guns sales --meaning more than one third of gun purchasers did not undergo proper background checks.

 "The universal background check is something that is well supported among gun owners like myself as well as other advocates," Baldwin argues.

But Johnson disagrees. "I just have no idea how you could make that work. Basically, what you end up doing is snare law abiding citizens in a huge bureaucratic maze."

So where do you draw the line between blaming the weapon and blaming the person committing the crime?

 "In these cases the unfortunate consistent theme is someone who had fallen through the cracks when it came to the mental health system," said Walker.

Because the shooter in the Sandy Hook elementary shooting used a military assault rifle, Obama hopes to curb gun violence by banning assault weapons and limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds.

 "I don't believe an assault weapon ban works when it was tried in the 90's.  I don't think an assault weapon ban works," Johnson said.

Baldwin agrees that it would be difficult to limit ammunition rounds. "Looking at the magazine capacity issue obviously that's more tricky politically, but I think it's something that deserves a thorough debate."

In a recent survey, 53-percent of House and Senate members admitted to owning gun.  Reid Ribble, Tom Petri, Tammy Baldwin, Ron Kind, and Paul Ryan are just some of the Wisconsin lawmakers who say they own at least one gun. 

But Johnson said the solution lies among communities. "The solution is far more likely to come from families, from our communities as opposed to the federal government."

Under President Obama's proposal, the federal government would put $4 billion into ensuring more officers are on the streets, another $30 million towards aiding schools develop emergency response plans, and $20 million towards expanding a system that tracks violent crimes in all 50 states.

"The federal government has no capability to provide funding for this mandate.  We're already broke," Johnson said.

Regardless of how lawmakers react to tackling the gun debate, everyone agrees something must be done.

 "I believe it's time for a national conversation on gun violence," said Baldwin.

Thursday night on Local 5 News at 10 p.m. our gun debate series continues.

How local residents are reacting to the controversy and how Obama's proposal is affecting gun sales and conceal carry permit requests.