Gov. Tony Evers announced an executive order to establish the Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention along with the addition of a sweeping gun safety package in his 2025-27 budget proposal at a press conference Tuesday.
The announcement comes less than a month after the Dec. 16 school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison that killed a student, teacher and the perpetrator.
The Office of Violence Prevention, housed in the Wisconsin Department of Education, will work with local government agencies to ensure a comprehensive approach to violence prevention in the state through the providing grants to school districts, firearm dealers, law enforcement agencies, nonprofits and government agencies to support initiatives aimed at reducing and preventing violence, Evers said. It will also develop public education campaigns aimed at promoting safer communities.
Evers directed $10 million in federal funding to the office so it can start administering grants without waiting for the budget process to conclude. Additional funding from the state Legislature would be required to keep the office open.
Evers called on the Republican-controlled Legislature to pass his gun safety package, saying that the issues should be a “shared priority that transcends politics.” While Republicans have rejected previous gun control measures put forth by Evers, he says the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School highlighted the need for Wisconsin lawmakers to act.
“Violence, including gun violence, is a statewide problem, with statewide consequences for people and families across our state,” Evers said Tuesday. “Reducing crime and violence should be an issue that receives earnest bipartisan support.”
Evers also said he will be proposing a sweeping package aimed at reducing gun violence and implementing more public safety measures in the coming weeks.
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes and violence prevention advocates joined Evers and applauded the governor’s efforts to address increased violence in the state.
“No city, no matter the size, reputation or claim to fame is immune from gun violence,” Barnes said. “It is essential for the prevention of violence that strategies are developed in partnership with the communities that we serve to ensure that we can reduce violence while at the same time protecting the constitutional rights of all of our citizens.”
In Wisconsin, the rate of gun deaths has increased 54% from 2014 to 2023 compared to a 34% increase nationwide during the same period. While Wisconsin polls have shown high support for tighter gun control measures, Republicans have been resistant to passing gun control legislation.
In 2019, Evers called a special session of the Legislature to pass universal gun background check bills and a “red flag” proposal that would allow judges to take guns away from people deemed a risk to themselves or others. Republicans adjourned without discussion, marking the first of a dozen unsuccessful special sessions Evers has called since 2019.
Democrats have reintroduced a number of gun safety bills in recent years, but Republicans refused to take them up, instead opting to introduce bills that would expand access to guns.
In response to Evers’ announcement, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochster, said at a pre-session news conference Tuesday that “it takes a bureaucrat to think that adding another government agency is going to be effective.”
“I think what we need to do is to increase funding for our police and public safety services, not create a whole bunch of touchy-feely bureaucrats that are going to go around wasting time, wasting money and certainly not putting the effort where it’s deserved,” Vos said.
Editor's note: this article was updated at 1:58 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, to add a statement from Vos.
Anna Kleiber is the state news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She previously served as the arts editor. Anna has written in-depth on elections, legislative maps and campus news. She has interned with WisPolitics and Madison Magazine. Follow her on Twitter at @annakleiber03.
