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
Extreme Weather, UW Athletics Shakeup, and Olbrich's Expansion Contested
Madison was just hammered by extreme weather — flooding, high winds, hail the size of baseballs, and possibly (maybe) even a tornado?! Ho...
The Neighborhood Bars That Hold Madison Together
Madison has no shortage of cocktail bars and dives to satisfy your need to imbibe. But there’s something extra special about those neighb...
How Isthmus Keeps It Real, 50 Years In
Longevity in the media industry is hard to come by. Longevity for a local alternative weekly is an even tougher task. But Isthmus has man...
How Safe Are Our Streets?
How safe are Madison’s streets? After several high profile crashes this year, including one that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old h...
Earth Day’s Wisconsin Connection
Did you know we wouldn’t have Earth Day if it wasn’t for the efforts of a Wisconsin senator? And that’s not all. The UW-Madison has been...
'Your City Could Be Better': Why Portland’s Considering Hiring a Night Mayor — Presented By City Cast Madison
Madisonians, what do you do when your night life starts to dwindle? Nightlife is a huge economic driver for cities, but city offices are...
UW System President Ousted, Men's Shelter Update, and Another Round For Essen Haus
This week, the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted to fire its president, Jay Rothman. The regents say this has been a long...
What’s New in Madison’s Restaurant Scene This Spring
From Ba Lao to Friends Applaud, there are so many new restaurants in the Madison area to check out this spring. In her recent Cap Times...
2026 Wisconsin Spring Election Results
Last night’s election results are in! More than 50% of registered voters in Dane County turned out to the polls, and it was a good night...
It’s Time to Vote! Plus, Get Psyched for Summer Sports, and RIP Tone Madison
Happy Election Day, Madison! We’re wrapping up our election primers today with a breakdown of the contested Madison City Council races. P...