Journal Sentinel’s Milwaukee gun-owners safety summit brings community panel and information fair to north side

Event focuses on firearm ownership, safety practices and community impacts

A community summit centered on guns and gun safety was held Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Milwaukee, bringing together gun owners, residents and local voices for a moderated public discussion and an information fair. The event, titled “Behind the Gun: Milwaukee Gun Owners Safety Summit,” took place at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple, 1218 W. North Ave., on the city’s north side.

The forum was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., with an information fair and light refreshments offered from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Organizers described the summit as part of an ongoing “Behind the Gun” series and said it was designed to create space for a fuller conversation about firearm ownership in Milwaukee—particularly on the north side—while sharing practical approaches that can contribute to increased safety.

Panel lineup and moderation

The panel discussion was moderated by Journal Sentinel reporters John Diedrich and James Causey. The list of panelists reflected multiple perspectives tied to firearms, public safety and lived experience in Milwaukee:

• Eddie Silas, co-owner and director of business with Prolific Arms, a security and firearms-related business in the Milwaukee area.
• Kevin Simmons, who survived being shot multiple times after picking up a rider while driving for Uber in October 2023.
• Radio hosts Michelle Bryant and Homer Blow.

What the summit aimed to address

The summit’s framing focused on the “realities of firearm ownership” and on bringing together people who own firearms and those who are interested in the topic. Organizers presented the event as a venue for candid discussion of gun ownership and safety practices in Milwaukee, alongside broader issues tied to gun violence. A co-sponsorship with Marquette University’s O’Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism was also announced for the program.

Rather than positioning the event as a single-issue policy meeting, the structure combined a moderated conversation with a resource-oriented fair. The information fair included tables hosted by community organizations, reflecting an emphasis on connecting attendees with services and safety-related resources in addition to discussion.

The stated goal of the “Behind the Gun” series is to support “an honest, open conversation” and the sharing of “best practices” that can improve safety around firearms in Milwaukee.

Context: local discussion amid ongoing public-safety concerns

Milwaukee continues to face sustained public attention on gun violence and firearm access, including concerns about illegal modifications and the recovery of weapons used in crimes. In that environment, community forums that bring together gun owners, survivors and local media figures have become one method used to broaden public dialogue about day-to-day safety practices, the risks associated with firearms, and the experiences of residents directly affected by shootings.

The March 7 summit added to that local landscape by focusing on safety practices and community impact while providing a structured setting for discussion among participants with differing experiences of gun ownership and gun violence.