Democratic Legislators, Attorney General Introduce “Gun Safe Summer” Proposal to Curtail Gun Violence

MADISON – Today, Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) joined legislative leaders, Attorney General Josh Kaul, physicians, and gun safety advocates to introduce legislation that would help to prevent gun violence and accidental deaths by keeping firearms out of the hands of children and dangerous individuals. Research from Injury Epidemiology shows approximately 250,000 gun theft incidents resulting in 380,000 guns stolen annually from homes and cars, contributing to the high rates of gun violence nationally. Additionally, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reports over 50% of gun owners in the United States, including 55% of gun owners with children living with them, do not adhere to safe firearm storage practices.

“Wisconsin families deserve the peace of mind that they and their loved ones are safe at home, at school, or out in the community,” said Rep. Subeck. “Gun violence and accidental shootings continue to pose serious public health and safety risks. Our ‘Gun Safe Summer’ legislation addresses these dangers through reasonable, common sense measures that deserve bipartisan support.”

The legislation introduced today includes three bills:

• Background checks for all gun sales, closing a critical loophole that allows firearms sold by individuals who are not federally licensed dealers to bypass record checks.
• Extreme risk protection orders to allow individuals to petition the courts for an order to temporarily remove firearms from someone determined to be an immediate danger to themselves or others.
• Sales tax exemption for gun safes, barrel locks, and triggers locks to encourage safe storage of firearms, particularly in homes with children.
  
  

Representative Subeck is a co-author of the background check and extreme risk protection order bills. She is the Assembly author of the proposed legislation to incentivize using gun safes and trigger locks.

“Safe storage of firearms is critical to preventing gun violence, in particular accidental shootings, by keeping firearms out of the hands of children or others who should not have access to them,” said Rep. Subeck, “Incentivizing the use of trigger locks and gun safes by providing a sales tax exemption is a simple measure we can take to promote safe storage and prevent tragic accidents.” 

Representative Lisa Subeck has represented the 78th Assembly District since 2015 and serves as chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus.

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06/12/2023