Legislatively Speaking
By Senator, Lena C. Taylor
Republicans Continue ALEC’s Agenda Ahead Of States
Lena C. Taylor
In yet another sweeping victory for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Senate Republicans are moving swiftly through the nationally known political agenda of the group.
We continue to watch the interests of outside groups be placed at the forefront of Wisconsin, by both Governor Walker’s administration and members of the Republican majority controlled legislature.
ALEC is a corporate funded council, comprised of both global corporations and many elected officials, nationwide, that seek to rewrite state laws that govern and impact your rights.
They provide so-called “model bills” that frequently help big corporations at the expense of every day Americans.
Last week, Senate Republicans moved quickly to pass Senate Bill 35, another ALEC supported piece of legislation, in the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
SB 35 would eliminate the current 48 hour waiting period required by law to do a background check on potential firearm buyers.
The committee, which is comprised of 3 Republicans and 2 Democrats, recommended passage in a 3-2 partisan vote.
Omitting background checks on all types of firearms sales, ignoring public safety and the mental health needs of our state is downright irresponsible.
Polling showed that even nearly three quarters (74%) of NRA members support requiring background checks for all gun sales.
And at a time when a lagging economy and stagnant wages in our state increase the stress which leads to mental health issues, we should be protecting the people of Wisconsin, rather than eliminating the time which can help reduce tragic incidents of suicide and domestic violence.
Whether intended or not, many people viewed the 48 hour waiting period as a “cooling off” period.
The two-day time frame was originally needed to run the necessary background checks at both the state and federal level.
The advent and continued improvement of technology has drastically reduced the time needed to run those critical checks on handgun sales from a licensed dealer.
An estimated 11% of people are able to clear the background checks in less than 10 minutes. Roughly 80% of people are able to clear the background checks under 4 hours.
Expediency aside, the waiting period although admittedly unintended, gave individuals an opportunity to think about the gun purchase.
We are not always sure what motivates an individual to purchase a handgun.
Most often, the circumstances are for protection, sport, collector acquisition, or simply because it is a constitutional right.
But in those few instances, when the purchase is to do harm, commit a crime, or other less than desirable reasons, I would rather err on the side of caution.
Many of you may remember Badger Guns located in Milwaukee.
According to a January 2014, Mother Jones article, between 2007 and 2009, Badger sold 62 percent of crime linked guns recovered in Milwaukee, according to federal data crunched by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 21 of the 27 straw buyers—people who illegally purchase firearms for those who can’t pass background checks—prosecuted in Milwaukee between 2004 and 2009 bought their guns from Badger.
There is a rationale to move cautiously with regards to handgun purchases and receipt.
This committee and the full legislature should focus, with the same sense of urgency, on the many real issues facing the people of Wisconsin.
We should be voting on proposals that invest in the things that improve communities like our kid’s schools and quality health care, or create good paying jobs that grow our economy.
Instead, we have fast tracked the detrimental Right To Work (RTW) legislation, intended to further weaken unions. If you were to review the RTW legislation passed in Wisconsin, it clearly mirrors the “model bill” suggested by ALEC.
As we brace for the next round of tactics, aimed at further minimizing the voice of working class residents, we will need to remain engaged, hawkish in our attention to the issues, and vocal about the issues that negatively impact our communities.