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MADISON (WKOW) -- Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut has renewed a nationwide discussion on gun control. Opinions are strong on both sides of the debate, with many concerned about acts of mass violence in America this year.
"We have seen far too many of them," says U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, Ron Johnson. "You wish there was an easy solution. I'm afraid there's not."
It's an issue that's traveled nearly a thousand miles from Newtown to Madison, with some now calling for stricter gun control laws while others argue the discussion should be put on hold for now.
"For them to asses and share with the rest of the country and world what happened, what was really involved," says Governor Scott Walker. "We really don't know particulars. They might not for some time and then we can try to asses things that can be done here and elsewhere to prevent something like that."
However, many like Wisconsin representative Chris Taylor, of Madison, are asking for people to stand up to violence and speak out against a society's fascination with guns.
"One thing we need to do as a nation and in our state is look at some sensible gun law that prevent people or help prevent people who shouldn't have access to firearms from getting them. If you look at over the last few years we've had horrible tragedies here in our state and we've had horrible tragedies in this country," Taylor says.
While some are quick to blame the weapon, Senator Johnson says he believes the problem goes much deeper.
"Can you figure one particular cause for these? I don't think so. This is an overall societal problem. It's not a good trend. Hopefully once we move beyond the tragedy and hopefully well it beyond it, maybe we can start taking a look at these things."
Many have already started. One day after the shooting, several petitions had already found their way to the White House website. One gathered over 50,000 signatures in the first 12 hours, and by Saturday night the number had reached 100,000.
In order for a petition to receive a formal response from the White House it needs to have at least 25,000 signatures in the first 30 days. A handful of petitions have already reached that mark and many more appear to be well on their way.
