Gun Control Advocate Hopes Badger Guns Ruling Leads To Change

A spokesperson for the state’s largest gun control advocacy group says that this week’s ruling against a Milwaukee gun shop should send a strong message to dealers about the need to monitor the people they’re selling guns to.

A jury in Milwaukee Tuesday awarded $6 million to two police officers who were shot and wounded by a man who bought a gun illegally at the Badger Guns store. The 18-year-old shooter who was too young to buy a gun had gotten his 21-year-old friend to buy it for him.

Jeri Bonavia of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort said there are a minority of gun dealers who have put profit over people.

“I am hoping that those few gun dealers will really be encouraged to stop allowing for such easy access to guns by people who are clearly at high risk for doing bad things with firearms,” said Bonavia.

Bonavia said the ruling could set a precedent for future lawsuits. Meanwhile, the gun store owners do plan to appeal the verdict.