The two candidates for Wisconsin governor have quite different approaches to addressing gun violence.
Democrat David Crowley and Republican Tom Tiffany differ sharply on what they believe are the causes of gun violence and what legislative changes, if any, are needed to address them.
Gun violence affects communities across Wisconsin differently – firearm homicides are disproportionately concentrated in urban areas, including Milwaukee. In 2024, the firearm homicide rate in urban Wisconsin was more than four times the rural rate, according to data analyzed by the Violence Policy Center.
In rural Wisconsin communities, firearm suicide rates are higher than in urban areas. According to the Violence Poverty Center, the rate of suicides in rural areas was 10.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, compared with 7.1 in urban areas in 2023.
NNS posed questions to the Crowley and Tiffany campaigns and looked at past statements about gun violence and public safety.
Here’s what they said.
What causes gun violence?
The two candidates fundamentally disagree on whether guns themselves are problematic.
“America doesn’t have a gun problem. America has a crime problem,” Tiffany said in a June 2022 statement opposing federal legislation that included enhanced background checks for gun buyers under 21 years old and funding for state red flag laws.
Tiffany takes a law-and-order approach to gun violence, emphasizing the prosecution of violent offenders and support for law enforcement.
“My priority will be enforcing existing laws, keeping violent criminals off our streets and ensuring law enforcement has the resources needed to protect our communities,” Tiffany said in an email. “Prosecutors must also do their jobs instead of giving repeat offenders a slap on the wrist, only to see them return to our communities and commit more serious crimes.”
Tiffany said Wisconsin must also “improve access to mental health care and ensure veterans, young people and individuals experiencing mental health crises can get the help they need.”
He said that in the last state budget he helped double state funding for school mental health programs over the two-year period, increasing access to professionals for students who need additional support.
Crowley approaches gun violence as a public health issue.
“Gun violence is a public health crisis that affects too many families, too many neighborhoods, and too many lives,” Crowley said in an email to NNS.
What changes should be made?
The candidates also had different views on whether reforms are needed to address gun violence.
Crowley said we need more mental health resources, opportunities for young people and community-based violence prevention to address the issue.
He said he would expand community violence prevention programs statewide if elected governor, adding that community organizations, elected officials and law enforcement need to work together to prevent gun violence.
As county executive, Crowley helped launch violence prevention initiatives including Advance Peace, Credible Messenger and Destined for Greater, according to his campaign.
Crowley’s campaign platform calls for universal background checks, safe firearm takeback options and expanded access to free gun locks.
In the past, Tiffany stated that restricting the constitutional rights of “hard-working, law-abiding Americans” would not make communities safer.
Tiffany has voted against federal legislation that would: expand firearm background checks; provide funding for state red flag laws; and ban certain assault-style weapons.
Tiffany also has supported expanded concealed carry rights – he cosponsored the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 and the National Constitutional Carry Act.
The general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3.
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