Milwaukeean Debra Fifer spent Mother's Day thinking about her son, who was shot nearly three years ago, and talking about ways to push for stricter gun control laws this weekend when the nationwide National Rifle Association convention comes to Milwaukee.
Fifer plans to hold a "Freedom From Gun Violence" rally at noon Saturday at Pere Marquette Park near downtown, about a mile away from where the Midwest Airlines Center, where an anticipated 50,000 NRA members will be meeting. Fifer's son, Kirk Bickham, Jr., was shot with two other companions on Sept. 24, 2003 outside Elvin's Ice House on Port Washington Road.
She said several organizations were working with her on "14 Days to End Gun Violence," which she hopes NRA members take to heart.
After her son's death, Fifer organized "Mothers Against Gun Violence" in an effort to bring like-minded people together. She said, "I am not against people owning guns legally."
But she wants more focus and effort on preventing people who shouldn't be allowed to own guns from somehow getting them anyway. To that end, she pushed for a piece of legislation -- Senate Bill 148 -- that would have required more extensive background checks.
"A lot of NRA members are supportive of this," she said of the bill. "My son was shot by a felon with a gun."
Fifer said the bill failed this session but she will continue to push for it.
Fifer said there is a "gray market" for guns because the original legal owners of guns sell them without any record. She said that is how many criminals are able to get weapons in Milwaukee, a city which has seen a dramatic upswing in homicides in recent years.
In a discussion with a Wisconsin radio host this week, NRA spokeswoman Ashley Varner characterized most gun owners as responsible, law-abiding citizens and said the actions of criminals is no excuse to "tear down the Second Amendment." Varner said the criminals wont obey gun laws anyway, and said the "way to get rid of criminals and crime is to prosecute every gun crime."
Fifer said groups such as Peace Action of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort will also be participating in the Saturday rally.
