Wisconsin GOP takes over gun bill from Democrats

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Democrats tried to pressure Republicans into passing universal background checks for gun buyers Tuesday but GOP leaders outmaneuvered them, seizing control of the legislation and rewriting it to fund armed guards in schools.

The move capped a day of furious debate over gun control in the state Capitol in the wake of a mass shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 people dead.

Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel began the day by telling WTMJ-AM radio he would be open to letting teachers and others go armed in schools.

"Law-abiding gun owners don't go and shoot up schools," Schimel said. "When you make a school a gun-free school zone, the only person you're stopping is the law-abiding gun owner who doesn't want to get in trouble."

Democrats, meanwhile, held a morning news conference demanding the GOP pass Democratic measures that would institute universal background checks, prohibit people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from buying guns and ban bump stock sales.

Students from all of Madison's high schools appeared alongside the Democrats and demanded action.

"The incompetence of legislators who are bought out by the (National Rifle Association) has barred us from change that is long overdue," Madison East High School junior Anne Motoviloff said.

Republicans control both houses of the Legislature. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos dismissed the Democrats' demands as a "sad, cynical" political stunt to capture headlines. He said none of the bills have broad support in the Assembly and Democrats have never tried to talk to him about the proposals.

Source: Yahoo News