Q&A: UW safety Patrick Johnson opens up about guns, gun violence and his faith

MADISON – Like many of his Wisconsin teammates, safety Patrick Johnson is active on social media. 

And when it comes to the topic of guns and gun violence, the third-year sophomore from Washington, D.C., is particularly passionate and not afraid to express his views.

Johnson discussed those views in a Q&A with the Journal Sentinel this week.

Q. Patrick, based on your comments on Twitter, you appear to have strong feelings about gun use and gun violence. What factors have contributed to your views?

A. Not only in Washington, D.C., but in cities all over, young and innocent lives – children, sons, daughters, fathers, cousins – are getting hit from cross-fire. It is all because … there’s a lot of nonsense. It’s just not right. I can’t really explain how I feel about it. There are so many feelings.

Q. You grew up in Washington, D.C., and attended the Bullis School, a private school, for your final two years of high school. Were guns prevalent in your neighborhood and/or in your school?

A. D.C. is crazy. There is a lot of gun violence and for no reason. Why? It was everywhere in D.C. I’m not going to lie to you about that. The school districts in D.C., you were required to go through metal detectors, even from elementary school. When I transferred to the Bullis School it was a big difference. That ideology of weapons wasn’t there. It was an open-door policy, which was a great community to have. There is a big difference between the two communities. That safe environment needs to be created everywhere.

Q. Have you ever touched a gun? Are you comfortable around guns? Or do you want nothing to do with them?

A. My uncle is a police officer but I’ve never held a gun in my life. I just don’t find it. …Why? I get it. You play games when you’re a young kid. You like to shoot things up in video games. And hunting, I’m cool with that. But the idea of having a tool that can kill a person in a second is crazy, in my opinion.

Q. What are your thoughts on the tragic school and/or workplace shootings that have plagued this country?

A. They all bother me. You are losing innocent lives. You are losing a life. ... It is crazy. You lose innocent lives for no reason. 

Q. When I was your age, if you had a disagreement with someone there might be pushing or shoving or a fight. Now it seems some people settle such disagreements with guns. Do you understand that?

A. You fight it out. You don’t pull out a weapon and end it right there. You fight it out. That is life. You take the (loss) and learn from it. You don’t take the (loss) and kill somebody. Now everybody else is affected. Hundreds of people are affected because of your decision. 

Q. How would you respond to a gun owner who grew up around guns, is comfortable with them and believes you and others are trying to take guns away from law-abiding citizens?

A. I don’t want to take your guns away. It is your opinion and if you feel safe with them, I trust you with your word saying you know how to use it and protect yourself. I understand that. You’ve always got to protect yourself and your family. But there’s also situations where there is misuse of weapons. That is what I believe.

Q. How much does your faith in Christ play a role in how you view this topic?

A. My big thing is that I’ll always have my opinions, but I’ll never try to alter somebody else’s. I always try to see both sides. And I will never hate another person for what they have done or what they plan to do because you don’t ever know what they’ve been through in life. Of course, there are always consequences for your actions. But I always see peace and love. 

Q. Have you ever lost a family member to gun violence?

A. No.

Q. Has anyone ever pointed a gun at you?

A. No. And that is a blessing.