Wisconsin will add two state lawyers to prosecute gun crimes in Milwaukee under a measure that cleared the Legislature’s budget committee on Wednesday.
The plan would add two assistant attorneys general in Milwaukee to supplement the Milwaukee County district attorney’s existing staff. The new attorneys would focus on nothing but gun crimes.
State Rep. Dean Knudson, R-Hudson, said the move is directly related to gun violence in the state’s largest city.
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“This has to do with violent crime on the streets of Milwaukee, every day, by people that are in gangs,” said Knudson. “They’ve done it before and they’re still out on the streets.”
The plan passed committee on a unanimous vote, although Democrats like state Rep. Chris Taylor of Madison said tougher gun laws were more urgently needed.
“This is just a little Band Aid. A little tiny Band Aid,” said Taylor. “I’m going to support it because it’s better than nothing, but it is nowhere near good enough.”
The plan would cost the state about $367,000.
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