A new report by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence focusing on state efforts to curb gun trafficking gives Wisconsin 10 out of 100 possible points for the state’s efforts.
According to the report, the state’s weak gun regulations help feed the illegal gun market. Wisconsin has the eleventh highest percentage of crime guns recovered that were originally purchased within the state. The Brady Campaign’s Wisconsin 2009 scorecard focuses on six broad areas:
• Curb Firearm Trafficking (35 possible points) States can fully regulate the gun dealers within their borders, limit bulk purchases of handguns, provide police certain technology to identify crime guns, and require lost or stolen guns to be reported to the police. Wisconsin scored two points.
• Strengthening Background Checks (27 possible points) Requiring background checks on all gun sales, requiring a permit in order to purchase firearms and laws regulating ammunition. Short of requiring background checks for all gun sales, states can also close the gun show loophole, at least requiring background checks for all gun show sales. Wisconsin scored zero points in this category.
• Protecting Child Safety (20 possible points) States can require that only childproof handguns be sold within their borders, require child safety locks to be sold with each handgun, hold adults accountable for keeping guns away from kids and teens, and require handgun purchasers to be at least 21 years of age. Wisconsin scored just two points in this category.
• Banning Military-style Assault Weapons (10 possible points) banning high-capacity ammunition magazines. Wisconsin scored a zero.
• Guns In Public Places (8 possible points) restricting the ability to carry guns in public places to trained law enforcement and security and allowing localities to “Preserve Local Control” over municipal gun laws. This includes keeping guns out of workplaces and college campuses, not forcing law enforcement to issue concealed handgun permits on demand and not preventing municipalities from passing their own gun laws. Wisconsin scored six points in this category