Grant enhances firearm background checks

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Wisconsin is one of eight states receiving a federal grant to improve background check data bases used by gun shops when selling firearms. Wisconsin will get $980,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice to upgrade the software it uses to maintain criminal and mental health commitment records.

The changes will make it easier for gun sellers to be sure they’re not selling a gun to a felon or someone who is mentally unstable. Wisconsin Department of Justice spokesman Gary Hamblin says about half that money will be spent to make Wisconsin's records on mental commitments accessible to gun merchants outside the state.

Gun control advocates in the state say they’re happy there's more money in the background check system. But Jeri Bonavia of the Wisconsin Anti Violence Effort, or WAVE, says until the state requires background checks at gun shows and for gun sales between individuals there's still a risk of a gun falling into the wrong hands.

She says right now in Wisconsin, “nearly half of all gun sales are conducted in that unregulated market, where if more information was included in the background databases it would be helpful because background checks aren't conducted in those unregulated sales.”

State legislators rejected a bill requiring background checks for private gun sales during budget debates last year.

Tags: wisconsin, govnerment