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Right to bear arms advocate pushing to curb straw purchases

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Oct. 1, 2009

Badger Guns on S.43^rd Street is getting a lot of media attention because of its recent sign accusing the MPD of being racist (Milwaukee police have been checking out some of the store’s customers after they drive away) and the number of straw purchases being made at the store.

State Representative Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford) is one of the strongest gun advocates in the state Legislature. He has been attempting to pass legislation to address straw purchases for about 10 years. Currently, the penalty for buying a firearm for someone prohibited by law from possessing a firearm is only a misdemeanor. The maximum sentence is nine months in jail.  Gunderson has already authored legislation upping the penalty to a Class H felony with a maximum penalty of six years in prison. 

Gunderson has issued a news release about his legislation that reads, in part:

“This legislation is not one of those feel good bills to appear tough on crime; this bill addresses a very real and growing problem by strengthening an already existing penalty. The ease with which violent felons are able to get their hands on guns is a significant factor contributing to violent crime on our streets.

This was painfully illustrated earlier this summer when two Milwaukee police officers were shot by a firearm that was purchased by a straw buyer. The straw buyer bought the firearm for someone he knew was prohibited by law from purchasing firearms, and then the straw buyer sold it to him for $40.

I am a strong proponent of an individual’s Second Amendment Right to Keep and Bear Arms. However, individuals who purchase handguns for felons or anyone else who is not legally able to own a gun should be treated like the criminals they are. They should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and face a much stiffer penalty than a misdemeanor with a maximum of nine months in jail.”

It's interesting that Gunderson's effrots in the past have failed on partisan grounds. Suddenly Democrats are coming out of the woodwork screaming that something needs to be done about straw buyers. Where have they been?

You can Gunderson’s release here.