MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Senate’s judiciary committee has approved a Republican bill that would eliminate Wisconsin’s decades-old two-day waiting period for handgun purchases. The Republican-controlled panel passed the measure 3-2, clearing the way for a full Senate vote. It’s unclear when or if that might happen. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s spokeswoman says Senate Republicans haven’t discussed the measure. The waiting period was enacted in the mid-1970s. The bill’s chief sponsor, Van Wanggaard of Racine, says it was meant to allow time for background checks but the checks can be done far more quickly now with computers and law-abiding citizens shouldn’t have to wait for their guns. Democrats say the waiting period was meant as a cooling-off period and the bill would allow angry people to get guns quickly.
