Herb Kohl: “Last week was Schools Without Violence week in the Milwaukee public schools. However, last Monday, at the same time that…”

“Last week was Schools Without Violence week in the Milwaukee public schools. However, last Monday, at the same time that students in my alma mater, Washington High School, were preparing essays on a theme of 'Peace Begins with Me,' gunshots shattered that peace. In the first shooting ever in a Milwaukee classroom, a 19-year-old former student shot a high school senior in the arm and leg. He was fortunate that he was not killed. In the aftermath, one concerned mother stated: Washington High School is a place of learning for kids. They should feel safe enough to learn. For this to happen here is unfair. Mr. President, this is not just unfair. It is unacceptable. Young people should be able to concentrate on their biology and math classes and not on avoiding bullets. Of course, there is no easy cure for the violence that is riddling our streets and ravaging our schools. We need more police, more prisons, and better family structure. However, I do believe that in the last Congress we passed three measures which can begin to make a difference: The Brady Act, the Youth Handgun Safety Act, and the assault weapons ban. I do not believe that any of these bills infringe on anyone's second amendment rights, and I am a strong supporter of these rights.”