Governor Evers and Democrats Propose Universal Background Checks for Gun Purchases
Friday, August 16th, 2019 -- 9:44 AM
(WRN) -Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Democratic lawmakers have proposed universal background checks for gun purchases.Evers called on Republican legislative leaders to support that.
"Earlier this week, Republicans said they couldn't weigh in on universal background checks, because there wasn't a bill. Well by god we've got one. And we have it today. And if they don't, they need to answer why they think firearms purchases should be different for different people. So that they're constituents understand why they won't take a reasonable, moderate step to make our communities safer. Time to stop waiting for permission from the NRA."
Attorney General Josh Kaul says the state Department of Justice runs thousands of such checks annually, without infringing on the rights of law abiding gun owners. However . . .
"There is a loophole that allows people - and that includes anybody - somebody who has been convicted of a violent felony, somebody who is subject to a domestic violence restraining order, to evade a background check and buy a gun without going through the process that the vast majority of firearm owners go through."
Evers says it's time for the legislature to pass universal background check legislation.
"I'm calling on the Republicans, and the Democrats in the legislature to pass a bill requiring universal background checks. The bottom line is that the vast majority of gun owners and Wisconsinites across our state agree with us. No matter what kind of firearm you're buying or where you're buying it from, the process should be the same for everyone."
The bill includes several exemptions, including for guns transferred as gifts or inheritance to family members. Polling indicates a majority of Wisconsin residents favor universal background checks. Republican legislative leaders have indicated little interest in passing this type of bill.
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