SHARE

By of the

Madison — The three Democrats running for attorney general support universal background checks and at least two want to see tweaks to the state law allowing people to carry concealed weapons.

The sole Republican in the race argues no changes to state gun laws are needed.

The stances show the stark differences between the two parties when it comes to Second Amendment issues. The candidates' views on gun policies are important because the attorney general's Department of Justice investigates crimes, helps local law enforcement, performs background checks for handgun purchases and is responsible for issuing permits to people who want to carry concealed weapons.

The Democrats running for attorney general are Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne and state Rep. Jon Richards of Milwaukee.

The winner of the Aug. 12 primary will face Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel, the only Republican in the race. GOP Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is not seeking a third term.

Background checks are required to purchase handguns from federally licensed dealers but not private sellers. The three Democrats said they wanted background checks to be conducted in all cases, but Schimel said he did not want to see any adjustments to the state's gun laws.

"We need to be more aggressive about enforcing the laws we have," Schimel said in an interview. "Additional restrictions on lawful possession of firearms only make things more difficult."

Happ called requiring background checks for all gun purchases "easy, obvious."

"Universal background checks would be a great first step," she said.

Of the four candidates, Happ is the only one with a concealed weapons license. She said she got it in 2012 because she faced threats as she prosecuted a case, but she noted that she didn't wind up carrying a weapon.

There needs to be some tweaks to the concealed weapons law Wisconsin adopted in 2011, Happ said. Police should be able to check if people have licenses when they make traffic stops, she said — something they're barred from doing under the law.

She said the requirement for classes to get a concealed weapons license is inadequate. The law does not require the classes to include written tests or time on the shooting range. She said she would like to see the classes include the use of simulators similar to those used in driver's education.

"It allows people to understand they're responsible for every bullet that leaves their gun," Happ said.

She said she has some concerns about people openly carrying firearms, but was unsure whether the law should be changed on allowing the practice. She said she urges people to be smart about where, when and how they carry weapons, noting some people find it unsettling to see people carrying guns in the open.

Richards introduced a bill to require universal background checks, but it made no headway in a Legislature controlled by Republicans. To combat gun crimes, he said he would like to see more funding for law enforcement and programs like Milwaukee's ShotSpotter, a system of sensors that pinpoints the location of gunfire so police can respond quickly to incidents.

Republicans cut funding for the program last year, but restored some of it this year.

"There never should have been a fight" over that money, said Richards, who tried to preserve the full funding as a member of the Legislature's budget-writing Joint Finance Committee.

Richards voted against the concealed weapons law and in a recent interview said he would like to see changes to it. Those who get concealed weapons permits should have to go through periodic training, he said. He also wants to ban people from bringing guns into taverns, though he wants bar owners and their workers to be able to carry guns if they have permits.

"I think we should revisit the ability of people to carry guns into bars," he said.

Ozanne said he, too, backs background checks for everyone purchasing guns.

He said people who carry concealed weapons should have appropriate training, but he stopped short of saying whether he believed state law should be changed to require training beyond the class people must take to get a concealed-weapons permit.

"It would be beneficial to all citizens to have training," he said, and added, "I'm not looking to take firearms from anybody."

Schimel takes a different stance than the Democrats, making clear he does not support more background checks.

"We have plenty of gun laws," he said. "We should enforce the ones on the books more aggressively."

He does not want to modify the concealed weapons law, which he said had probably made the state "marginally safer."

"The community is not more dangerous because law-abiding citizens can carry weapons," he said.

Twitter: twitter.com/patrickdmarley