UPDATED Thursday, March 21, 2013--5:40p.m.
MADISON--"In the last decade Wisconsin led the nation in the number of mass shootings," said Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, and a supporter of universal background checks.

The Brookfield spa shooting from five months ago didn't qualify as a mass shooting, but it's still fresh in the minds of many, including the brother of one of the victims. "I am an NRA member, I am an avid hunter," said Elvin Daniels, the brother of Zina Daniels. Zina had a protective order against her husband and he was ordered not to own or purchase firearms, but the man was still able to purchase a gun on the internet which he used to kill her and two of her co-workers.

Elvin's now throwing his support behind a group of state lawmakers calling for universal background checks in the sale of all firearms. "I truly believe in the bottom of my heart that had there been a universal background check done back then there's a pretty good chance that my sister Zina would still be with us this day," he said.

Currently, a background check is required for sales at gun shops and sporting goods stores--but a loophole exempts private party sales--including at gun shows and flea markets. This proposal would make background checks universal. However, the group said it does plan to exclude requiring background checks for things like selling a gun to a licensed dealer, or if a gun is given as a gift to a family member, among others.

We also spoke with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Burlington. He said he's not sure universal background checks are the solution.
"Having every single person, you know, go through a background check when that's not necessarily the problem it's just having criminals not access weapons, hopefully there's other ways to look at that," he said.

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Posted Thursday, March 21, 2013 --- 11:50 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin Democrats have a new proposal that would make it illegal to purchase or transfer guns without running background checks.

Their proposal would cover transactions at gun shows, flea markets, or between individual owners.

Wisconsin law doesn't regulate private transactions.

Three Democrats announced the proposal at a Capitol news conference Thursday, five months after an October shooting where a man killed his wife and two others at a Brookfield spa using an illegally purchased gun. The brother of one of the victims appeared at the news conference to speak in favor of the legislation.

The proposal is unlikely to pass the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker's spokesman Cullen Werwie says the governor has no immediate comment.

Copyright 2013: Associated Press