Welcome aboard.
I see you're over toward St. Paul... Hardballer is in your general neck of the woods.
I don't remember other people over there off the top of my head, but they'll pop in to say hi soon enough.
For information, I suggest starting with the stickies
"
Here's what you should know"
http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/s...rrying-(OC)-In-WI-Here-s-what-you-should-know
and
"
Adopt a first-timer"
http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?77014-Adopt-a-first-timer
The "what you should know" thread has LOTS of links to useful information, including Wisconsin Carry's page
http://www.wisconsincarry.org/ (which itself has lots of useful information - see the "legal" tab in the upper right, then click on "Wisconsin legal citations").
That laws page also has, at the bottom, a 'gun rights pamphlet' which might fit the bill for something you can carry to remind yourself & cops about the laws.
It's for current laws, which will be changed come 01NOV, esp. if you get a permit.
BE SURE TO WATCH the "don't talk to cops" videos. Yes, they're long, yes the lawyer talks fast. Just do it.
Places you can't currently carry:
1) In your car. (Unless unloaded & encased*.)
167.31
2) In a state park or fish hatchery. (Unless unloaded & encased.)
29.089
3) In a government (taxpayer-owned) building, or any property of the post office.
941.235
4) Anyplace that's posted. (Trespass.)
5) Knowingly within 1000' (3 blocks) of the edge of a school property (K-12), unless
a) you are on private property
or
b) unloaded & encased
948.605
6) In a place that serves alcohol for on-premises consumption, unless
a) it's a long gun
or
b) you have permission from the owner or manager
941.237
As of 01NOV... [see PDF of the new law in my sig]
1) You can carry OPENLY in your car. (See #4 about school zones.)
2) With a permit, you can carry in a state park.
3) With a permit, you can carry in a gov't building, unless it's posted, OR UNLESS it's one of the prohibited places (police station, jail, secure mental health facility, courthouse,... what did I forget?)
4) With a permit, you can carry in a school zone, but NOT on school property.
(I interpret that to mean up to the inner edge of the sidewalk, but a cop or judge might see it differently. Read the law & decide for yourself.)
5) With a permit, you can carry in a place that serves alcohol as long as you're not drinking.
(There are a couple of nuances we argue about that I won't confuse you with.)
6) If a place is posted, & you can reasonably be expected to see the sign, it's tresspass. (A ticket & fine.)
After 01NOV, if you're carrying concealed, or in a place that only permittees may carry, an officer may request to see your permit & ID (because if you don't have one you're breaking a law, & that's RAS**).
* unloaded = no cartridge in the chamber or in an attached magazine
encased =
currently means in a case designed for a firearm. After 01NOV, it can be any case.
** RAS = Reasonable Articulable Suspicion of a crime
