[1]Tony Evers for Wisconsin


John,

21 lives were taken yesterday, and today we mourn.

Our hearts are broken by the maddening and horrific act of gun violence in
Uvalde.

Kathy and I are praying for the parents and families, educators and
classmates, and an entire community that has been shattered by a merciless
act of gun violence.

I can’t imagine what they feel, but I know we have to act.

Doing nothing is not an option. Politicians who are playing political
games instead of taking concrete action to solve this problem must not be
accepted.

I’ve already vetoed legislation that would allow more guns on school
grounds. If we don’t win this election, they will try to pass that and
more.

So, today, I’m not speaking to you not as an elected official, but as a
dad of three and a grandfather of nine. I’m speaking to you today as a
former teacher. I’m speaking to you today as a Wisconsinite.

Because today, we're not talking about politics. We’re not thinking about
politics.

Today, I’m thinking about all of the kids who watched the news and woke up
scared to go to school — a place that should be a sanctuary where they
should always feel safe.

I’m thinking of the parents and loved ones who cried in their cars
dropping their kids off at school this morning, praying they’d be home for
dinner.

I’m thinking today of all the educators, school staff, and administrators
who went to work afraid but still showed up to support our kids and
console their fears and grief while trying to quell their own.

I’m thinking of all the people who’ve survived gun violence and were
promised “never again” only to watch these tragedies happen over and over.

Enough has been enough for too damn long already.

Our kids are learning in fear. Our families are living in fear. We cannot
accept that gun violence just happens. We cannot accept that kids might go
to school and never come home.

And, in this state, we cannot accept policies and rhetoric that will make
this problem worse while common sense measures supported by an
overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites go nowhere.

We’ve called the Legislature into special session on universal background
checks, we’ve called for extreme risk protection orders to allow loved
ones and law enforcement to ask for firearms to be removed from
individuals who are a danger to themselves or others—two ideas 80 percent
of Wisconsinites, including a majority of gun owners, support.

I still refuse to believe that when our kids are murdered at their desk at
school that there is any party line that's not worth crossing, that there
is any price too high to pay, that there is any cross we shouldn’t be
willing to bear to make sure it never happens to any other kid ever again.

I know we can find common ground — here in Wisconsin and out in D.C. — we
have to, and we must.

And so, to my Republican colleagues, I want to be clear today: I will work
with any Republican who wants to find common ground, who wants to make
progress on gun safety, who wants pass legislation a majority of
Wisconsinites will support, I am ready. I’ve been ready.

If we can prevent one more kid from witnessing their friends be maimed
with their own two eyes, if we can prevent one more parent from having
their soul ripped from them by learning they will never see their kid
laugh or cry or play again, if we can prevent one more person from being
viciously gunned down buying groceries, worshiping the god they believe
in, or doing everyday things every person should be able to do without
fear of whether or not they’ll make it home, then it will be worth it.

Let’s work together. Let’s find common ground. Let’s do the right thing.

Onward,

Tony


Paid for by Tony for Wisconsin



You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time:
[link removed]