Scott Walker and Tony Evers differ on guns

NRA has put money behind incumbent for 25 years

MADISON – GOP Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Tony Evers differ sharply on guns, with Evers backing universal background checks and regulating military-style weapons and Walker broadly supporting gun rights and emphasizing school safety.

Their disagreements over guns came into sharp relief after a man killed 11 people during a shooting rampage Saturday at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

Evers wants more background checks

Evers, the state schools superintendent, has called for universal background checks and said he would try to enact them during his first term if elected. Walker has not supported such a measure.

“My policy is this: There’s over 80 percent of the people of Wisconsin that have said that they would be in favor of universal background checks,” Evers said Monday. “I think we have to be pragmatic here.”

In answers he provided during the Democratic primary, Evers said he also supports regulating militarystyle weapons; banning bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire faster; and preventing those on the “no fly” list from buying guns.

Walker signed concealed carry law

Walker in 2011 signed the state’s concealed weapons law, making Wisconsin one of the last states to allow the practice. He has resisted efforts to make Wisconsin a “constitutional carry” state that would allow residents to carry concealed weapons without permits or training.

Evers said Monday he believes the concealed weapons law is working but he would consider “possibly” strengthening training requirements under the law.

“I think it’s working now,” he told reporters. “I’d like to see the requirements — make sure that the requirements are tough.”

Walker in 2011 also put into law a “castle doctrine” measure that provides legal protections to those who shoot someone who breaks into their home.

Walker in 2015 ended the state’s 48-hour waiting period to buy handguns. Evers said he would like to reinstate the waiting period, which he contends has saved “countless lives.”

NRA spends $4 million to help Walker

The National Rifle Association has long backed Walker and is spending $740,000 on an ad for him this fall.

In all, the NRA has spent more than $4 million to help Walker over his 25-year political career, according to liberal groups that track political spending.

Walker backs school safety funds

After the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in February, Walker developed a $100 million plan to improve school safety. The Legislature approved the plan and schools received grants this year.

“Scott Walker believes no child or parent should have to worry about whether our communities are safe, and he’s backed it up with real leadership — including a bipartisan effort that resulted in $100 million in school safety funding,” Walker spokesman Austin Altenburg said.

Walker has also put more funds toward mental health, which he has said is essential to preventing gun violence.

Before Walker announced his plan, Evers offered a $50 million proposal that was aimed at providing more mental health care to students, improving school climates and making schools physically safer.

Lieutenant governor candidates also disagree

Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch over the weekend criticized Evers’ running mate, Mandela Barnes, for gun restrictions he backed as he was entering the state Assembly.

“If @TheOtherMandela had his way, ANY citizen who wanted a concealed carry permit would have to have their head examined,” Kleefisch wrote on Twitter. “Since when do you need a doctor’s note to exercise your constitutional rights? Again: Failed leadership.”

Among the proposals Barnes backed were ones that would require psychological exams for those who seek concealed weapons permits and would ban hollow-point bullets, which are widely used for deer hunting.

Barnes said Monday he and other Democrats backed away from the plan after they unveiled it because of “unintended consequences.”

Evers wouldn’t say Monday if he agreed with requiring psychological tests and banning hollowpoint bullets.

“I’m not prepared to respond to that,” he said.