Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Just before the U.S. Senate voted down an expansion of background checks, Steve Scaffidi and three other U.S. mayors talked with Vice President Joe Biden about gun reforms.
Just before he presided over a U.S. Senate vote in which expanded background checks were defeated, Vice President Joe Biden joined Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi and three other mayors on a virtual conference call to discuss that and other aspects of the nationwide gun debate. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak moderated the 30-minute Google Hangout discussion, which also featured Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Gary (Ind.) Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. Scaffidi, himself a gun owner and self-described Republican, said he knows his position supporting gun reforms isn't popular. But he pledged to get involved at the request of Sikh temple shooting victims. "I come from a gun-owning state. Lots of law-abiding citizens. They worry their …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
A law that would make it mandatory for people buying guns at gun shows and online gun shows to have a background check is being debated in the Senate this week. Do you agree or disagree with the move?
Senate Republicans and Democrats seem to have reached a deal on a law that would allow background checks on private gun sales at gun shows and online gun purchases, according to a story by The Hill. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told a reporter with TheHill.com that he didn't think background checks fell into the category of gun control. A reporter with the New York Daily News called the deal "watered-down." But Fox News reported it is unclear whether there are enough supporting votes to pass the bill, which would require 60 votes and at least some of those votes coming from Republicans. Under current law, gun buyers who make their purchases at licensed gun dealers have to comply with background check laws, but those who buy guns at shows …
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Lt. Brian Murphy, shot 12 times during the Sikh temple attack, talked to Mike Gousha about attending the State of the Union and whether he was happy about how he was portrayed.
Oak Creek Police Lt. Brian Murphy was nervous about how he would be portrayed during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, but he said in an interview with WISN it turned out to be "what I had hoped for." Murphy appeared Sunday morning on UpFront with Mike Gousha, just days after he sat in the First Lady's box during the State of the Union and was singled out by Obama for his bravery responding to the Sikh temple shooting. Murphy told Gousha many people said he would be used as a "pawn" as Obama pushes a comprehensive package of gun reform proposals. But he wasn't as convinced, and in fact, gets upset at the suggestion. "People who have portrayed me as a pawn miss the point," Murphy said. "When the President of the United …
Monday, February 11, 2013
Lt. Brian Murphy, the Oak Creek police officer shot 12 times during the Sikh Temple shooting, was invited by Michelle Obama to attend the State of The Union Address.
Lt. Brian Murphy, the Oak Creek police officer shot during the mass shooting at the Sikh temple in August, will flank Michelle Obama during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday. Murphy told Patch's new media partners at WISN-TV that he and his wife almost turned down the trip, but now that it's happening, it feels like a dream. "With my background, you wouldn't think in a million years, yeah, when I'm 50 I'm gonna go see the White House and sit in a box and all those things. That just don't happen," Murphy said. During his speech, Obama is expected to focus on the need for tighter restrictions on guns, according to Whitehouse.gov. Murphy said he understands the political aspect given the nationwide debate over …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Six months after the Sikh Temple shooting, leaders ask Sikhs across the nation to pray for the victims' families and ask lawmakers to pass tougher gun control laws.
A Sikh leader is calling on members of the Sikh religion across the nation to pressure lawmakers to pass tougher gun control laws. Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), called for a day of prayer on Sunday, and asked all Sikhs to contact their elected officials and speak out against gun violence, according to a story on SikhSiyasat.net. Tuesday will mark the six-month anniversary of the shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek where six members were killed and four others were wounded on Aug. 5. "During the service, we also request the Gurdwaras to stress the importance of Sikh community members to speak out and to ask congregants to contact their representatives to support gun control …
Friday, February 1, 2013
The Oak Creek police chief will talk about his meeting with Obama and the president's proposed gun measures.
Police Chief John Edwards will discuss his meeting at the White House and the president's proposed gun measures Sunday on UpFront with Mike Gousha. The program airs at 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. on WISN-TV (Channel 12). Sunday's show also features Sheriff David Clarke, who made national news with a radio spot urging citizens to arm themselves. Edwards met Monday with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with police chiefs from Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn. The Obama administration drew attention to the worst shootings of 2012 as it continues to push a comprehensive package of proposals aimed at reducing gun violence.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Oak Creek's police chief appeared on MSNBC a day after meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House to discuss gun violence measures.
A day after he met with President Barack Obama, Police Chief John Edwards appeared on MSNBC to talk about the meeting and the debate over gun violence. Edwards told the network the president asked him and other police chiefs, including those from Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn., to be candid about what they thought. The issue, Edwards said, isn't about "gun control," which tends to divide people. It's about stopping violence in general. "The gun issue is so polarizing, a lot of people stop dead in their tracks when they hear that, and they hear nothing else," Edwards said. "And we don't get to the meat and potatoes of how to actually stop the violence." Edwards doesn't think banning any particular type of weapon will stop gun violence—…
Area law enforcement officials respond to Milwaukee County Sheriff's message about gun owners fighting back and "simply calling 9-1-1 and waiting is no longer your best option."
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke’s personal safety message, which called on Milwaukee County gun owners to “fight back” and take a certified gun safety course, started a media firestorm as Clarke appeared on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News. The inquiries came after Clarke issued the following public service announcement: I’m Sheriff David Clarke, and I want to talk to you about something personal…your safety. It’s no longer a spectator sport; I need you in the game, but are you ready? With officers laid-off and furloughed, simply calling 9-1-1 and waiting is no longer your best option. You can beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back; but are you prepared? Consider taking a certified safety course in …
Monday, January 28, 2013
Chief John Edwards and police chiefs from Aurora, Colo. and Newtown, Conn. were part of a meeting at the White House on gun violence.
Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards and police chiefs from Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn., met with President Barack Obama Monday to discuss gun violence. Obama is drawing attention to the worst shootings of 2012 as the administration pushes a package of gun reform proposals. Edwards told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the president's reforms likely would not have changed the events of Aug. 5, when a white supremacist killed six Oak Creek Sikh temple members. Gunman Wade Michael Page purchased a 9-millimeter handgun legally prior to the shooting and was not barred from owning it. But in a shooting at an Oak Creek hotel in 2004, the gunman was a felon armed with an automatic weapon. Felons are prohibited from possessing a gun. "We have …
Saturday, January 19, 2013
With more than 300 comments between two stories, Patch readers are up in arms over the guns or no guns debate surrounding schools. If President Barack Obama's kids are constantly protected, some say, everyday American's should be as well.
Last year marked the deadliest year in mass shootings in United States history, with incidents at an elementary school, movie theater and religious temple leaving hundreds of people dead or injured. The recent rash in mass shootings has ignited passionate debates and sparked hundreds of comments on Patch among those who are both for and against tighter gun control laws. Two stories in particular generated more than 300 comments: One on President Barack Obama's proposed gun control measures and one on an ad by the NRA that referred to the president's children. On Wednesday, Obama proposed a comprehensive gun policy reform that included a series of executive actions. Under the proposals the president is recommending: The package will cost…
Patriot
7:49 am on Thursday, April 25, 2013
Well if I am not mistaking the Mayor is part of the coalition Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Now if you take the time to read the website and specifically the Coalition Principles you will see that the Mayor also supports the banning of Military style weapons!! Hmmmmm now lets see, I do not believe that we as gun owners own a military style weapon. I know for a fact that I own a semi automatic … more ›