There Are More Guns in Madison Than You Think
Blake Alvarenga calls himself a Madison liberal. He also owns many guns and he knows how to use them. That sets him apart from many others who he’s met in Madison. He regularly staffs a booth at the Dane County Farmers’ Market, where he talks to neighbors who bought guns for self-defense, and were surprised to learn that nothing comes next. No instructions, no training. So he stepped in to help.
He’s the president of the Wisconsin chapter of the Liberal Gun Club and he offers community classes on how to use guns.
📚 To learn more about Blake’s work, check out Joe Tarr’s story in Isthmus: Time to get a gun.
Also mentioned on the show:
📱 If someone you know is thinking about suicide, call 988 anytime
🩸 There’s a community blood drive on Tuesday, August 22
📰 Suicides rise in Wisconsin, led by more than 500 gun deaths in 2022 [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Latest Episodes
Madison’s Duck Pond Is a Diamond in the Rough
Things are heating up at the Duck Pond this summer! The Madison Mallards have clinched the Great Lakes West first-half title, and the Mad...
'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast Madison
See if your Madison knowledge serves you well! In the first-ever Your City Could Be Better trivia episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz goes...
SCOTUS Decisions, Madison and MKE ICE Activity, and July 4th Fireworks Roundup
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on birthright citizenship, the legality of bans on transgender athletes, and limits to campaign f...
Your Guide to July 2026 in Madison
It’s hot and humid, and we’re looking for ways to beat the heat this July! The City Cast Madison team is kicking off the month with our t...
Extreme Heat Hits Madison, Knowles-Nelson Gets Axed, and Farmers Market Bliss
Madison is under an extreme heat warning this week, with temperatures in the 90s and heat index values exceeding 100 degrees. City Ca...
Canoes Connect Madison’s Indigenous History To the Present
Last week, the Ho-Chunk Nation gifted Dane County Parks a hand-carved dugout canoe. Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Bill Quackenbush...
'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast Madison
Just how good are the sidewalks in Madison? The state of a city’s sidewalks can be a good indicator of how healthy that city is — and ped...
No Phones in School, Lake Monona Stinks, and Food Delivery Bots Roll Away
This week, the Madison School Board approved a district-wide cell phone policy. Under the new rules, phones are banned all day for grades...
Pour One Out for Schlitz and a Weekend Events Roundup
Earlier this year, Pabst Brewing Company announced an indefinite hiatus of Schlitz beer. However, Verona-based Wisconsin Brewing Company...
Governor’s Race Shakeup, Giannis Trade Shock, and Madison’s Best Thrifts
In the latest on the race for Wisconsin governor, democratic candidate Missy Hughes dropped out of the primary Monday and endorsed Lt. Go...