MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Marinette County board supervisor John Guarisco has a message for state legislators and the governor.
“There are people that do live on and do rely on and want to own guns in a less restrictive fashion,” said John Guarisco.
So, he came up with a resolution which reinforces the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment on the right to bear arms.
“I also know there are individuals that have had bad experiences with guns, you see them in headlines all the time and they want more legislation restricting the ability to acquire guns and own guns and I don’t think that’s a proper thing,” Guarisco said.
Marinette County board chairman Mark Anderson has a different stance.
“I’m a gun rights advocate, don’t get me wrong. I believe in the right to bear arms but our society has changed dramatically from when the constitution was written,” said Mark Anderson.
He used an example from his past about a hostage situation involving a family member.
“It’s clearly a mental health issue in my mind and when we can talk about ways to be able to restrict or get after some of the mental health stuff whether it’s restricting, not being able to access to guns, or whatever. I think there has to be mechanisms in society that can address that,” he said.
Guarisco says he wants to be proactive.
“When you have an election, there are portions of the state that have different political views and different feelings about different entities. What might be more important to Marinette County’s not as important in Milwaukee County and I think the counties that do feel, whether it be legislation for guns or legislation for another facet of government controls, they need to let their legislators know… the governor and the powers that be how they feel about it,” Guarisco said.
In October, Governor Tony Evers called for a special session to pass stricter gun laws but it went nowhere among the Republican-controlled Legislature.
FOX 11 brought up the lack of another scheduled special session on stricter gun laws to Guarisco. He says he’s aware and followed up with, “You don’t want to wait until there is.”
Guraisco’s proposal was on the county board agenda Tuesday but removed so it could be discussed and voted on by the public services committee next month.
Once that happens, the resolution could make its way to the full county board.
“There’s a mixed reaction when you talk to board members in regards to whether they support it or not,” Anderson said.
Last month, Florence County declared itself Second Amendment sanctuary.
