Like most people in our nation, I believe we need a comprehensive approach to reducing gun violence; one that includes the enactment of reasonable gun laws as part of an overall strategy to keep our children safe. Tragically our political system has failed to deliver on this time and time again and children are dying as a result.

Today too many politicians blame mental illness for every shooting and use it as an excuse to do nothing about the gun side of the equation. The result is tragedy.

There is a lot we can do to stop the carnage; an approach that better addresses both mental illness and guns could make a real difference. Unfortunately, the NRA playbook doesn’t seem to allow for that. And too many politicians are following that playbook — blaming mental illness, doing nothing.

So to those with the power to enact change: We’re tired of excuses; we want action and we want it now. It’s time to come together as adults who owe it to our children to make their world a better, safer place. It doesn’t need to be this difficult.

I have called on Governor Scott Walker and Speaker Paul Ryan to pass the following common sense reforms to make sure dangerous people don’t have access to dangerous weapons: mandatory universal background checks, assault weapon ban, ban aftermarket devices (bump stocks) that allow you to modify your gun into a rapid fire weapon, and keep people who are subject to domestic violence protection orders from having guns.

Join me in demanding action from Governor Walker and Speaker Ryan by signing our petition at countyofdane.com.