Wisconsin bill would better verify domestic abuse suspects' gun possession

[Robb]

In many Wisconsin counties, judges don't know if domestic abusers own firearms — even though a state law makes it illegal for them to do so. And if an abuser lies about owning guns or ignores a court order to turn them over, there is often no follow-up and no penalty.

That could soon change under a bipartisan bill that would set up a process for allowing courts to verify whether people subject to domestic violence and child abuse restraining orders surrender their weapons. The bill, which author Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) began circulating for co-sponsors Monday, also has the support of the judiciary.

Bies expects the bill will get a speedy hearing and a vote in the state Assembly by the end of the year.

"When people are in a situation where they are supposed to turn their guns in, we will make sure it's done," said Bies, former chief deputy sheriff in Door County. "That way, if something arises, they won't have easy access to a weapon. They will have to work harder to find one, and maybe by then they will have calmed down a little bit. That's the goal: To take away the heat-of-passion type situations."

Read More: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/wisconsin-bill-would-better-verify-abuse-suspects-gun-possession-b99104414z1-224942522.html

[lastlib]

1. this kind of thing should go nation-wide!

[CTyankee]

2. I wonder how our friends in RKBA feel about this. It would be interesting to find out...

[Decoy of Fenris]

3. I think you'd find quite a bit of support.

This is the type of legislation that should be passed more often, rather than half-assed feel-good measures that do absolutely nothing. Unlike almost every other attempted legislation at reducing firearm violence, this could actually save lives. Couple this with the suggestions Krispos made over in RKBA, and we may be on to some progressive legislation that stands a good chance at making a difference.

Why don't you hop on over and post it up, CT? If anyone can rip a gun legislation apart, it's RKBA, and if it passes their sniff test, it might stand a chance in Congress.

[CTyankee]

5. well, after my experience in talking about background checks, I dunno...

When several RKBA folks volunteered that they, too, thought background checks were a good thing, I thought there was a floor of support there, but then, all of a sudden, there was this "Now your side has to give up something." I was pretty taken aback. Where I thought there was mutual agreement, at least on the whole idea o f background checks, it turns out it was really a quid pro quo! I felt a little bit duped...

[SoutherDem]

4. Actually I don't see much of a problem with it.

We want those who are LEGAL to be able to get firearms without being restricted by useless feel good laws which doesn't stop any crimes, but those who are ILLEGAL no.