Wis. governor calls for special session on gun control

Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is calling the Republican-controlled Legislature into a special session to take up a pair of gun control measures that GOP leaders have been unwilling to debate.

The move Evers announced Monday does not force Republicans to debate or vote on the bills. But it does give Democrats another means to spotlight the issue. Evers pointed to a Marquette University Law School poll from September showing 80 percent support both proposals. He says the Legislature owes the public an up or down vote on the bills.

Evers wants the Legislature to take up a bill creating universal background checks for most handgun purchases. He's also calling them to vote on a "red flag" bill that would give judges the power to take weapons away from people deemed to be a threat to themselves or others.

This is the first special session Evers has called as governor.

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