On Friday, Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial contender and construction executive Tim Michels called “red flag legislation” “unconstitutional.”
Michels made the remarks at a televised debate in Madison on Friday evening against Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI), who voiced support for red flag measures and universal background screening.
“We must ensure that the Constitution is upheld and that law-abiding people who own guns do not have their firearms taken. I will be there for responsible firearm owners,” Michels stated, after referring to red flag legislation as a “slippery slope.”
Evers described red flag laws and universal background screenings as “acceptable” concepts before declaring that “responsible owners of firearms do not need to worry about red flag regulations because it will never be a problem for them.”
In response to a prior inquiry about crime in Wisconsin, Michels stated that the Left’s solution to crime is to just take away guns.
“The Left always wants to take away weapons and believes that this is the problem. “I am a responsible owner of firearms and I will defend your Second Amendment rights,” Michels declared.
During their initial general election discussion, the two candidates, who are locked in a tight contest that might go down to the wire, battled on abortion and education.
Michels, who stated that he “makes no apologies” for his pro-life stance, said he backed Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban but would accept exceptions for incest and rape. Evers, who unsuccessfully attempted to have the state legislature’s Republican-led repeal of the prohibition over the summer, wants abortion to be secured by state law.
In terms of education, Trump-backed Michels has advocated for universal school choice legislation, whilst Evers favors increased spending for public institutions.
Following the debate, Michels’ campaign argued Evers had failed as gov., while Evers termed his Republican opponent “radical.”
“This election is a reflection on Tony Evers’ weary, old management, which has unleashed violent felons, closed down our state economy, and failed our schoolchildren,” Michels campaign manager Patrick McNulty said.
Michels, according to Evers’ campaign manager Cassi Fenili, “staked out the most radical views conceivable, with the purpose of splitting our state and turning neighbors against each other.”
Wisconsin’s governor’s election has paralleled the state’s Senate race, with Democrats emphasizing abortion and Republicans stressing violence and inflation. With less than a month until the election, a Marquette School of law poll found Evers and Michels neck and neck.
Evers received 47% of likely voters in Wisconsin, while Michels received 46%.
