I bet you’d be surprised to learn that Wisconsin led the nation in mass shootings over the last decade. Over two dozen people were murdered in those incidents. The tragic shooting at the Azana Salon in Brookfield doesn’t even appear on the list because “only” three people died.

The shooter in that case couldn’t legally own or purchase firearms, yet he used a loophole in the law to buy a gun over the Internet. Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee, and I introduced legislation almost a year ago to close that loophole and require that all people buying firearms undergo criminal background checks.

Under federal law, background checks are mandatory for people who purchase weapons from licensed dealers. However, private-party transactions at gun shows and flea markets or by people who take out online ads are not covered. About 40 percent of all gun buyers escape criminal background checks by going through unlicensed dealers or private sellers.

It makes no sense to have two sets of rules for gun buyers. The law should apply to everyone equally. Would you feel safe getting on an airplane if 40 percent of the passengers could choose to skip the metal detector screening at the airport?