As Homicide Tally For Year Increases, Attorney General Candidates Address Gun Violence

The gun homicide total for Wisconsin this year stands at 94, with the killing of a Milwaukee man this week.

Milwaukee police say Jim Penny, a 29-year-old African-American man, died Sunday when another man shot him during an argument. Penny returned fire and wounded the suspect in the case before dying.

At a sidewalk vigil this week, Penny’s younger brother James Luna said some may not like to hear of the altercation. Luna said Penny was a good man and a great father.

“His kids love him,” said Luna. “Everybody’s kids love him. He’d do so much for the kids, for his friends and family — he’d do so much. He shouldn’t be gone. This is hard.”

Gun violence could be an issue the next Wisconsin attorney general more actively addresses. Republican candidate Brad Schimel said enforcement of existing laws is key.

“We have got effective gun laws in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, we’re not using them effectively on criminals who commit crimes with firearms. We’ve got to do better on that.”

Schimel proposes that the more-thorough prosecution starts in Milwaukee County.

He traveled to two gun shops in central Wisconsin this week to highlight his endorsement from the National Rifle Association.

Democratic candidate Susan Happ said she uses a gun for hunting and has a concealed carry permit. She said that more gun laws are needed, including background checks for all gun sales. She argues that such a law would have prevented the Brookfield spa shootings from two years ago.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of a Wisconsin Public Radio year-long series tracking all gun-related homicides in Wisconsin.