OSHKOSH, Wis (NBC 26) -- At Jon's Sport Shop in Oshkosh, business has been good since the beginning of the pandemic.
"2020 was a record year in sales," says Jon Gafner the owner of Jon's Sport Shop.
But in particular, it was handguns that Jon says have been hard to keep stocked. In 2020 they made up over 80 percent of the sales at Jon's shop.
"It was something I have never experienced in over 36 years of being in business."
So how complicated is it to buy a gun in Wisconsin? Jon helped explain by walking us through the process, something nearly 500 people did at his store in just the past month.
"It's any of the information that may prohibit you from transacting the firearm."
In Wisconsin, you have to be 18 years old to buy a long gun and 21 years old to purchase a handgun. But if you have a felony or a misdemeanor involving domestic violence on your record, you won't be qualified to make the purchase.
Background checks are required with federally licensed dealers like Jon, but they are not mandatory for sales. Now, to qualify in the background check you'll also have to be living in the United States legally, have a valid ID, and no current restraining orders, and if you meet those qualifications odds are pretty good that you'll be in and out with your purchase the very same day.
"In most instances, background checks, when they are not completely swamped take just a matter of minutes," says Gafner.
