State Democrats Introduce Bill to Reinstitute Waiting Period on Purchasing a Handgun

Thursday, February 3rd, 2022 -- 10:00 AM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) State legislative democrats want to reinstitute Wisconsin's 48 hour waiting period on purchasing a handgun.

That was abolished in 2015 during the Walker administration, and State Senator Melissa Agard recalls one lawmaker's reason for getting rid of the practice. "He had won firearm at a banquet 50 miles away from his house, and he had to wait two days to pick it up. He was upset. He was upset because he had to wait, because he had to get permission and he had to put an extra hundred miles on his car."

Agard says the removal of that waiting period has led to senseless gun violence in the state. "The bill that we are introducing is not about the theoretical or the theatrical it's about saving lives."

Agard says the measure is about preventing gun violence in Wisconsin. "We can avoid senseless acts of violence, we can choose a safer path for Wisconsin."

Agard and other Democrats say the waiting period and background checks are essential at preventing gun violence and protecting the lives of Wisconsinites. The bill is unlikely to get traction in the Republican controlled legislature.

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