Several Democratic lawmakers in the state want to make it more difficult for domestic abusers to get a hold of a gun, in wake of Sunday’s deadly shooting rampage in Brookfield that left four people dead — including the shooter — and four injured.
Representative Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee) intends to introduce legislation in January to close legal loopholes allowing domestic violence perpetrators to obtain or keep weapons. The Milwaukee Democrat says this measure would not impact law-abiding citizens who want to own a gun.
The measure would allow police to confiscate firearms and ammunition when guns have been used in a domestic incident; notify law enforcement if someone with a domestic abuse restraining order has a concealed weapons permit; and prohibit private firearms sales to people under a domestic abuse restraining order.
In the Brookfield incident, authorities say the shooter bought his gun two days after a judge ordered him not to have any weapons as part of a restraining order requested by his estranged wife. The gunman was not required to have a background check when he made the purchase from a private dealer.
Some will argue that all the laws in the state can’t stop a determined individual with an agenda. Richards says, maybe so, but we didn’t have to make it easier for them.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:49
