It's done. Wisconsin eliminates 48 hour waiting period on handgun purchases.

By Rob Janicki
Wisconsin has had a 48 hour waiting period to purchase and receive a handgun since 1976, while 10 states and the District of Columbia have waiting periods of some duration for handguns and/or all firearms.  Wisconsin Governor, Scott Walker, a Republican, signed the Bill into law on Wednesday.  The law will go into effect in one week, with much wailing done by state Democrats and anti-gun activists, with all kinds of pleas to emotional arguments as to why this is a bad law.  No data to support their argument, but plenty of emotional appeals.

With his signature, the all-but-certain Republican presidential candidate eliminated the state's 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases and allowed off-duty, retired and out-of-state police officers to carry firearms on school grounds. Both measures passed earlier this month in the GOP-majority Legislature with bipartisan support.

Much to their credit, not all Democrats in Wisconsin opposed these two Bills.  Anti-gun activism in Wisconsin has not been well received, since Wisconsin is essentially a rural state with a long and treasured history for hunting and adding an economic benefit to the state, with both residents and out of state hunters contributing to the state's economy.

The governor, who was joined Wednesday by Republican lawmakers and families who supported the measures, has been an outspoken supporter of gun rights. Walker previously made Wisconsin the 49th state to legalize concealed carry — even in state buildings — and signed a "castle doctrine" bill giving homeowners more legal protections if they shoot an intruder.

Here are the arguments for and against these two Bills in simplified form.

Supporters of eliminating the waiting period said it'll better allow people to protect themselves, while opponents said it would lead to people caught up in fits of rage or depression to obtain weapons quickly. Supporters also say it inconveniences law-abiding citizens, that background checks can be completed in hours and women would be able to get guns faster to protect themselves and their families from abusers.

By contrast, California, where I happen to live, has a 10 waiting period for all firearm purchases.  There is no data to support this arbitrary waiting period in California, but considering that every statewide elected office is held by a Democrat and each chamber of the state legislature has a substantial liberal Democrat majority, it becomes clear that the California waiting period is based upon ideological grounds, rather than any sound and rational data