Recently, I was quoted in an “Independent” news source The American Independent that highlighted in their story that I was at an event where a semi-automatic gun was being raffled. I unequivocally support our Right to Bear Arms, and as I tour Wisconsin, I will stand firm in support for all of our rights. I believe that our American rights are protected by the Second Amendment and I am proud of the rich heritage of gun ownership in our nation, in Wisconsin, and in my own family.

Growing up in Western Wisconsin, we know the difference between gun control and the Democrat’s unconstitutional assault on our rights. Gun control isn’t disarming law-abiding citizens and taking away our first line of defense against a home intruder. Gun control is not telling a hunting family like mine that we cannot own any kind of firearm we choose to. That is simply subverting the Constitution.

Gun control is owning our guns, responsibly caring for and storing our guns. Gun control is exercising our God-given right to bear arms as protected by the Second Amendment. Is there an issue with gun violence? If you believe the exaggerated narrative from the left, there is. Truthfully, there is an issue with violence, and this is centered primarily in cities that have been overrun by people who have no respect for life, no respect for the rule of law, and certainly no respect for guns. We don’t have a gun violence issue, we have a values issue. A lack of values for property. A lack of values for rights. And sadly, a lack of values for how precious life is.

I share the grief and outrage by all Americans when our neighbors and children are being killed by criminals. We feel helpless. We feel hopeless. And we want to do something. But targeting law-abiding people is not the answer. Taking gun rights away from Americans does nothing to reduce criminal acts, but rather solely disarms potential victims and takes away the one tool we have as we wait for law enforcement to respond to a call for help.

So how do they slowly chip away at our rights? They begin by telling you that Conservative gun owners are the problem, while ignoring the sheer numbers of murders and other violence that are occurring in major cities across our nation by people who by definition are little less than terrorists. I might add that these same cities have the most restrictive gun laws in the nation. The Left equates all deaths by firearms rather than deal with the reality that over half of gun-related deaths are suicides. Our identity as Americans has been painted to sell you a picture of a reality that just doesn’t exist.

Every death of an innocent American is one too many, but we need to look deep into our souls and ask some tough questions. Why are Americans killing each other? Why are Americans killing themselves? The gun is but a tool, a Constitutionally protected tool that when used properly, protects Americans from real dangers. While violence touches all corners of our nation, we have done nothing to address the real issues facing our neighborhoods, hurting our families. It is time for an adult conversation where we look at the realities of violence and despair, and stop creating a false boogeyman whose sole purpose is to conflate unrelated issues and take away rights of Americans.

What is Senator Baldwin’s idea of how to address this issue? She wants someone who commits a misdemeanor to lose their Constitutionally protected rights even as she’s a member of a radical party who advocates for reduced sentences for violent crimes. The Democrats talk about how too many people are incarcerated. This thought process disconnects entirely from the fact that these same prisoners are those who break laws, victimize Americans, and use their illegal guns to commit violent crimes. She wants these terrorists back on the streets, loose to continue breaking into our mom and pop stores. She wants sympathy for people who would rather take what is ours than have to put in the work and earn it themselves. Her party actually advocates for those who rape and murder over those families who control their own firearms. And she would rather paint the criminals as victims when good Americans fight back. This is not leadership or representation. This is burying your head in the sand and hoping the bad guys won’t notice unarmed victims.