'Can you stop recording?' Wisconsin Republicans dodge reporters' questions on guns

MADISON - Republicans who control the Wisconsin Legislature are resisting calls for broader background checks for gun purchases after a pair of mass shootings in other states.    

Some say they oppose the idea. Others raise skeptical questions. Most try to change the topic. 

"That’s not what we’re here to talk about today," Rep. Paul Tittl, R-Manitowoc, told reporters Tuesday when asked about expanding background checks. 

Sen. Dan Feyen, R-Fond du Lac, signaled he doesn't want to see any changes to Wisconsin's gun laws after 31 people were killed within 24 hours in shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, this week. 

"I think we have laws on the books that are good right now," he said. 

He tried to brush off additional questions. 

"I have no comment at this time. I’m done," he told a reporter. "Can you stop recording?"

Asked if he thought there was anything Wisconsin lawmakers could do to prevent mass violence, he said, "Not at this time."

After this article was posted online, Feyen contended on Twitter that he had been "cornered" by a reporter while walking through the halls of the Capitol and didn't say more at the time because he opposed "knee jerk reactions" in trying to find ways to address gun violence. 

Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, said Republicans should get on board with public sentiment, given that a Marquette University Law School poll last year showed that 80% of voters supported increased background checks. 

"I very strongly disagree with Republicans that say, just a blanket statement, that there's enough laws for this," Goyke said. "This idea that we don't know what to do or we need to have a conversation is really an excuse to not act. It's a reflection of their inability to get out of a political corner that they've painted themselves into and I don't think that the electorate is going to take it much longer."

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in recent days has highlighted his support for wider background checks and red-flag legislation that would allow people's firearms to be taken away with a court order if they were shown to be a danger. He has not offered a specific plan since the shootings. 

Lawmakers from both parties last year approved a $100 million plan written by Republicans to make school buildings safer in response to the shooting in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people. Wisconsin Republicans haven't offered any proposals after the recent shootings. 

Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, said Republicans will discuss background checks, but declined to indicate whether she thought they should be required for more sales such as those made at gun shows or over the internet. 

"I’m not going to say whether I support them or not, but what I’d like to see is having our existing laws enforced," she said. "That’s the No. 1 issue right now because we have a lot of laws on the books right now that relate to gun use and responsible gun use and often these laws are not followed."

Asked to provide an example of a law that isn't being followed, she cited the state's involuntary commitment law, arguing sometimes people are not detained when they should be.  

Sen. Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said it was difficult to say whether he could support expanded background checks because he hasn't seen any legislation on the issue. He questioned the idea.  

"I don’t think we need to ... have a background check if I want to buy a firearm from my father," he said. 

But he didn't answer directly whether he thought background checks should be required for buying guns from a stranger online. 

"There’s not a bill out there, so any bill needs to be looked at," he said. 

Sen. Jerry Petrowski, R-Marathon, struck a similar tone when asked if he backed broader background checks. 

"I would have to see it in writing, the bill, before I’m going to comment on it," he said. 

Petrowski said he would like to see increased funding for mental health and school safety.

Other Republicans have also called for more mental health funding. Tittl, Darling, LeMahieu and GOP Sen. Kathy Bernier of Chippewa Falls held a news conference Tuesday for a bill that would give a tax break to psychiatrists to encourage them to move to rural, underserved parts of the state. 

But Tittl emphasized that idea had long been in the works and was not related to the recent mass killings.

"We have cared all along about mental health so this is not a reaction at all to any of the shootings," he said.

Democrats have said the state should spend far more on mental health than what Republicans have proposed so far.

They noted the state would receive an extra $100 million in federal money for mental health care over two years if the state adopted Evers' plan to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have rejected that idea because of their opposition to the Affordable Care Act, which is also known as Obamacare

Evers is meeting Wednesday with GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester on gun violence. He is expected to also meet this week with GOP Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau. 

Vos and Fitzgerald have expressed skepticism toward red-flag legislation and have long opposed universal background checks.

Evers on MSNBC on Sunday said he thought they may be resisting those ideas because of the stance of the National Rifle Association. 

"They may be waiting for permission from the NRA," Evers said. "I'm not quite sure yet. We'll have a good conversation."

Contact Patrick Marley at patrick.marley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @patrickdmarley.