It's time to hold legislators accountable for their failure to act on gun safety laws
Will they finally listen to the will of the people?
By Alexica Schultz
Wisconsin stands at a critical crossroads, with public demand and legislative inaction on a collision course. As the current legislative session draws to a close and we approach the end of Gov. Evers’ time in office, Wisconsinites find themselves at a point of reflection. With the 2026 elections drawing near, we must look beyond the rhetoric and ask ourselves a simple question: Have our state leaders actually followed the will of the people they serve?
The data is clear: 80% of Wisconsinites support universal background checks and the implementation of extreme risk protection orders. This is not a partisan divide; it is a broad consensus for common-sense safety. Yet, despite overwhelming public demand, the legislature remained silent.
Reflecting on this inaction during his State of the State address, Governor Evers noted that he dedicated his first-ever special session to addressing the gun-violence crisis. He shared a sobering reality: “I could spend the rest of my speech listing everything I’ve proposed to crack down on gun violence ... all of them went nowhere because in seven years, there’s no issue Republicans have done less about than guns.”
His message to the people was blunt: our lawmakers have failed us.
The impact of this legislative stalemate is not abstract. It is a real, tangible tragedy. In 2023 alone, Wisconsin saw 762 deaths due to gun violence. That represents more than 762 families whose lives have been permanently shattered. Behind every statistic is a person taken and a community left grieving. Despite these deaths and the clear public support for lifesaving policy, we have seen no movement in the halls of the legislature.
There are three more elections in Wisconsin this year, and with fairer maps, there is a greater opportunity to hold our lawmakers accountable for their inaction.
And we must do so. Our leaders must understand that their silence is no longer, and never has been, acceptable. Only by making our priorities known at the ballot box and ensuring our state leaders act in good faith can we achieve the legislative change we so desperately need.
When we speak with one united Wisconsin voice, our lawmakers will have no choice but to listen.
Alexica Schultz is a member of Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort
