New mats being offered to Brown Co. businesses that sell firearms. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Brown County’s law enforcement agencies want to stop people from buying guns for others who aren’t able to legally have one.
A new partnership is looking to increase safety in the community. Officials hope a simple message will make people think twice.
“Our hope is that this is just one more thing that we can do to keep those guns from getting into the wrong hands,” said Green Bay Police Department Chief Chris Davis.
This new initiative is aiming to curb what are called “straw gun” purchases. It’s when a gun is bought by someone who gives it to another person that is not able to legally have a firearm.
“I think there are times where we see where people know exactly what they’re doing, and then there are times where maybe its a relative or a friend who doesn’t realize how serious it is,” added Davis.
75 tactical mats were created and are being offered to businesses in Brown County that sell firearms. They will be placed on store counters.
On those mats includes the penalties for buying a gun for someone who can’t. A person could face up to 15 years in prison and as much as a $25,000 fine.
“If you do make an illegal gun purchase, and that gun is used in criminal activity, or violence, in reality, you’re putting yourself at the scene as if you’re pulling the trigger,” said Hans Lux, program coordinator for Green Bay Area Crime Stoppers.
According to the Green Bay Police Department, over the last two years they’ve seen six to 10 instances of weapons-related incidents where the firearm was bought for someone that was not able to possess a gun.
Nelson Tactical on Velp Avenue in Green Bay was the first business to receive mats.
“Our business is selling firearms to people recreationally and we don’t want that to get a bad name because of people who shouldn’t own them,” said Katie Nelson, vice president of Nelson Tactical.
Law enforcement departments across the county and businesses agree that being proactive is better than being reactive.
The Buerau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a supporter of the partnership.
Anyone with information on the illegal purchase of firearms is asked to call local authorities. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 920-432-STOP (7867).
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