In August 2012, six people were gunned down at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek.

One victim is Pardeep Kaleka's father.

"For a very long time, I didn't like to look at my son," he said. "He reminded me too much of his grandfather."

Two months later, three women were killed at the Azana Spa in Brookfield.

"The assailant in that case knew he couldn't go to a registered gun dealer to buy a gun, so instead he went to the internet," said Mayor Tom Barrett, City of Milwaukee.

Both are high-profile cases of gun violence, but the epidemic spans beyond that to homicides and suicides. Khary Penebaker's mom took her own life in 1979.

"Here I am living a life of not having my mom because she had easy access to a gun while she was in the pit of despair," he said.

The faces of gun violence want to keep weapons out of the wrong hands.

Last year, Mayor Barrett said police removed about 2,500 illegal guns from city streets, and it's been just months since mandatory minimums for felons with weapons became law.

"But I think by and large the state legislature and governor have not touched these issues because of opposition from the NRA," said Barrett.

The opposition is steadfast on upholding the second amendment. But supporters of stricter gun policy said it's about responsible ownership and preventing the pain others are feeling now.

"Don't wait until you have to stand in my shoes," said Penebaker. "Or the parents of Laylah Petersen's shoes or Sierra Guyton's parents shoes. Do not wait."

Second amendment advocates have threatened lawsuits to derail the president's executive action, but Mayor Barrett is not worried.

He said he spoke with White House officials who are confident Mr. Obama is well within his authority to impose these new gun control regulations.