Gun control off limits in Wisconsin legislature

Apparently, in the Wisconsin Legislature, there are some issues that just shouldn’t be discussed. State Rep. Leon Young of Milwaukee is being disciplined for daring to suggest Wisconsin consider tighter gun control regulations. And amazingly, Young is being reprimanded by his own party bosses. Last week, during a floor debate in the Assembly, Young tried to advance legislation calling for a ban on assault-style weapons. That came in the wake of gun control debate nationwide following the school shooting in Florida. The bill failed to advance for debate. But for whatever reason, Wisconsin Democratic Assembly leaders have responded by stripping Young of all his committee assignments and will be losing one part-time staff position. It is a political neutering. All for pressing his fellow lawmakers to finally discuss reasonable gun control measures. Last time I checked, our elected officials are beholden only to their constituents, not party bosses. And gun violence is certainly an issue in Milwaukee, which Young represents. There should be no restrictions on what any lawmaker tries to bring to the floor for debate. They may not be successful, but they shouldn’t be punished for trying. This is the second democratic lawmaker to be censured in the past year. Rep. Josh Zepnick was stripped of his committee assignments for drunkenly kissing two women. Somehow it seems trying to debate gun control doesn’t deserve the same level of punishment as being a pervert.