A group of Marquette students, including graduate students in the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program and undergraduates associated with Marquette’s Team ENOUGH chapter, participated in gun violence prevention advocacy day at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison.
The day allowed attendees to speak with legislators about current gun violence reduction legislative priorities, including universal background checks, a 48-hour waiting period to purchase a firearm and a ban on 3D-printed guns, commonly referred to as “ghost guns.”
“I am incredibly proud of our students for addressing gun violence as the urgent public health issue that it is,” said Dr. Christine Schindler, clinical professor and faculty adviser for Marquette’s Team ENOUGH chapter. “Their advocacy at the State Capitol and commitment to community education through initiatives like teaching about safe firearm storage and distributing free gun locks exemplify what it means to be a Marquette Nurse. They are leading with courage, compassion and a dedication to protecting the health and safety of all.”
Team ENOUGH is the youth outreach wing for Brady: United Against Gun Violence, a national anti-gun violence nonprofit that prioritizes research and evidence-based solutions. Marquette’s Team ENOUGH chapter started last year as a collaboration between Schindler and a group of nursing students.
This year’s Team ENOUGH leaders, seniors Julia Bucciferro and Allison Monty, were invited to join the advisory board of Wisconsin End Family Fire, an initiative by Brady and the Ad Council that engages with firearm owners to reduce gun violence. Team ENOUGH is also partnering with local nonprofit City on a Hill to distribute free gun locks to community members.
“Gun violence is impacting schools and communities every day, yet meaningful action remains limited,” Bucciferro says. “We want to normalize conversations around gun safety and empower families to protect their children by safely storing firearms at home. Each day, we’re taking meaningful steps toward building a safer community and reducing the violence that affects us all.”
Marquette Nursing seeks to incorporate nurse advocacy into its curriculum through other initiatives as well, including its support for Nurses Day at the Capitol and its graduate-level policy and advocacy course.
