July 19, 2010

When someone wants to buy a gun and applies for a license, the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can investigate his past and see if he has a criminal record.

But for the person selling the guns? Not so much. While ATF can delve into the business records of alcohol wholesalers, it doesn’t have the authority to look into hidden gun store ownership. This discrepancy seems foolish at best, deadly at worst.

A West Milwaukee gun dealer, Badger Guns (now Badger Outdoors), sold firearms used to shoot six police officers in Milwaukee in less than two years. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the store’s license was never revoked, even after a recommendation to do so.

WTMJ (NBC) Talks to Congresswoman Gwen Moore about Protecting People from Identity Theft {qtube vid:=f0nF0liKgUU w:=580 h:=360 b:=1 c1:=0b8241 c2:=16cc68 ap:=0 rel:=0}

U.S. Rep Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) said the federal funds allocated for high-speed rail in Wisconsin cannot be redirected to help pay for repairs to Milwaukee’s crumbling Hoan Bridge.

State Sen. Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) and Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) had sent a letter to members of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, asking that $250 million of $810 million in stimulus money for designated for high-speed rail be diverted to re-deck the Hoan Bridge.

Moore told the legislators in a letter today that the federal funds cannot be redirected for the Hoan.

However, Moore suggested some other alternatives to fund the repairs needed for the bridge.