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Local NewsLegislators Push Straw Purchase Gun BillBy Diane Pathieu with Jay SorgiMILWAUKEE - Before Julius Burton shot two Milwaukee Police officers at point blank range, he bought the gun he used in the crime illegally through what is called a "straw purchase." Burton is now heading to prison. What is being done to keep something like this from happening again? Officials in both city and state government are working together to make straw purchases a felony. A bill is being drafted right now for the Wisconsin State Legislature, and it was prompted by the police shooting in walker's point. Julius Burton, the man who admitted to shooting two police officers, didn't buy the gun he shot the officers with. He couldn't because he is a convicted felon, so he had a friend with no criminal record buy it for him. That's what the bill hopes to eliminate, making such a purchase a felony. "What I'm really hoping happens is that it happens a couple of times, the word gets out that we have a straw buyer law here in the state of Wisconsin and you better not do it," said West Allis Democratic State Representative Tony Staskunas. A public hearing would likely happen next month. |
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