Wisconsin man receives sentence for threatening to shoot legislators over bill to arm teachers

A man from Wisconsin, James Stearns from Fond du Lac, was convicted and sentenced to time served after making threats to shoot state lawmakers in 2022 if they approved a bill allowing teachers to carry guns. Judge Anthony Nehls found Stearns guilty of making terrorist threats, a felony, and sentenced him to seven days in jail, already served, and a $500 fine. Stearns’ lawyer, Matthew Goldin, did not provide a comment following the sentencing.
Stearns, aged 75, had sent two emails in May 2022 threatening violence towards state legislators if they passed a bill permitting teachers to be armed, as stated in the criminal complaint. The discussions about arming teachers arose amongst Republican lawmakers shortly after a tragic incident in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 elementary school students and two teachers lost their lives.
One of the threatening emails was directed at an unspecified state lawmaker, while the other was sent to a conservative talk radio host in Wisconsin. In one of the emails, Stearns identified himself and indicated that if the bill passed, he would acquire a powerful gun and target individuals who supported the law in Madison, willing to take the consequences.
In the email to the lawmaker, Stearns specified a timeline, threatening to harm the lawmaker within 60 days of the bill’s passing. The complaint quotes Stearns warning, “People will hunt you down and your family like animals.” Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney emphasized that threats against lawmakers for carrying out their duties are a danger to democracy and cannot be tolerated.