Wisconsin Voices highlights responsible gun ownership during 'Take Back Our Community' week

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- As gun violence continues to touch area hometowns, neighborhood advocates are focused on making impactful changes.

Wisconsin Voices is continuing its special week of events called 'Take Back Our Community'. To address the ongoing violence across Milwaukee County, the local non-profit is hosting a panel discussing responsible gun ownership.

Jamie Lynn Crofts is the Policy Director at Wisconsin Voices. "A lot of accidental shootings or shooting where the wrong person was shot that happened in the home can be prevented by things like safer storage, gun locks, keeping your ammunition separate from your gun, particularly in places where there are children in the home," she said.

Panelists during Thursday's discussion included Molly Collins for Advocacy & Engagement, Heidi Johnson, communications and public relations manager for WAVE (Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort), Desilynn Smith, executive director for Uniting Garden Homes, Inc., and Jennifer Hoffman-Jonas from Moms Demand Action.

All panelists agreed that a big part of keeping communities safer is responsible practices for gun owners.

"Most gun owners want to be responsible gun owners," said Crofts. She says safer gun practices is all about advocacy and education.

"Educating the public on all the ways that guns can be stored safely and stored in cars safely. I know that there's an amount of gun theft from cars in Milwaukee," said Hoffman-Jonas.

Moms Demand Action has a program called 'Be Smart'. "It's non-partisan, it has no pollical agenda at all. It's really just education and letting people think about wait where are my guns, where is it stored. can a child get it," said Hoffman-Jonas.

Other panelists chimed in on what they think needs to change.

"Starting those uncomfortable conversations in the schools around gun safety, gun education and having more pop-up gun community safety programs," said Smith.

'Take Back Our Community' events hosted by Wisconsin Voices continue through Saturday.

Friday, July 28:

• Taking Care of Our Community—Unveiling of The Mann Above Crisis Mobile with WestCare at 3 PM
• We Locked-In—Overnight lock-in event for teens with parental permission begins at 8 PM and ends at 7 AM Saturday

Saturday, July 29:

• Mental Health—Event with MERA from 5 PM – 9 PM

Location: 5055 N Lydell Avenue, Glendale, WI