Milwaukee Asks For Help From Governor, Legislature During Surge In Gun Violence

Milwaukee city officials are asking the state for help as they deal with a surge in gun violence.

Governor Scott Walker, however, isn’t promising as much as the city is requesting.

A few people have been shot to death in Milwaukee in recent days and several more city residents have been wounded by gunfire. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Ed Flynn are asking the state to support the idea of a mandatory minimum sentence for anyone who illegally possesses a handgun.

The officials also want a special legislative session and a state match of the half-million dollars Milwaukee will now put into police overtime costs.

Governor Scott Walker isn’t rushing to approve state spending, because he says a lot of other mayors probably also want money. He says the minimum sentencing idea sounds good, but that lawmakers can work on it during their regular fall session.

In the meantime, Walker says Milwaukee is a safe city.

“I can see the city of Milwaukee from my front porch of my house,” says Walker. “I didn’t have any fear about inviting governors to the city for the National Governors Association meeting.”

Law enforcement parks outside Walker’s house at night, and provides security when he travels.

Barrett says he’s glad Walker seems open to the minimum sentence idea, but he doesn’t want to wait for legislative action.

“People are dying right now,” says Barrett. “The governor and legislature can act right now.”

Barrett and Walker also differ over whether the Act 10 budget repair bill of 2011 freed up more money in Milwaukee for police services. Barrett says this spring, Republicans denied more funding for a gunshot detection system in Milwaukee.