Gov. Tony Evers, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, Attorney General Josh Kaul, Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) and Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) announce LRB-3949, a bill that aims to require background checks for those purchasing or transferring firearms.

Under the Wisconsin DOJ, the proposed bill unifies the background check process for all firearm purchases, including requiring the Wisconsin DOJ to conduct background checks on frames and receivers, say the news report. Under current law, only licensed gun dealers must conduct background checks when selling a firearm. The problem is that someone attempting to purchase a firearm can bypass the background check process by purchasing a firearm from unlicensed sellers. 

With the proposed bill, firearm sales and transfers must be made through a licensed firearms dealer. In addition, a background check is required for all firearm purchases with some limited exceptions, including transfers to a family member by gift or inheritance and any firearm classified as an antique by regulations of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor subject to a $10,000 fine and no more than nine months in prison.