LETTER: Gun rights backer sees callous timing in gun range fundraiser

To Ozaukee Press:

I believe in the Second Amendment. One of our founding fathers, James Madison, proposed the Second Amendment shortly after the Constitution was ratified as a way to “provide more power to state militias,” which today are considered the National Guard. That makes perfect historical sense.

Full disclosure: I have taken excellent hunter safety classes with my sons and a concealed-carry class with my husband. In fact, my husband gave me a 20-gauge shotgun for Mother’s Day one year.

I cannot, however, support the irresponsible practice and policy promoted by Daniel Kelly, who many say is a right-wing vigilante masquerading as a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice.

Kelly, gleefully, without remorse, held a gun-toting fundraiser the day after the Molson mass shooting at a gun range in my hometown of Brookfield.

Contribution levels included $5,000 for the “50 CalM2HB” level, a nuanced reference to a Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun. A $2,500 contribution put a supporter at the “25 ACP” level, named for a .25 caliber handgun. A $1,000 donation was the 10mm level in reference to another semi-automatic handgun. Apparently, you could shoot a gun at this fundraiser and background checks were optional. How fun.

Our governor, Tony Evers, cancelled his fundraiser out of respect for the victims. Eighty percent of our neighbors believe in sensible gun safety laws. The Republican Party that is funding Dan Kelly’s campaign has made it clear that as long as they are in power, according to Jake Curtis, aide to my state senator, Duey Stroebel, “we will never see red-flag laws or any change in our gun laws.”

The Republican Party gaveled out of a session Gov. Evers held on gun safety within minutes. That is why my family is voting for Judge Jill Karofsky for Supreme Court justice. She will protect us, not gun lobbyists.

Deb Dassow
Cedarburg