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Summary of Wisconsin gun laws as they appear in about.com

Captain Nemo

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2010
Messages
1,029
Location
Somewhere, Wisconsin, USA
State Requirements:

Rifles and Shotguns:

Permit to purchase rifles and shotguns? No.
Registration of rifles and shotguns? No.
Licensing of owners of rifles and shotguns? No.
Permit to carry rifles and shotguns? No.

Handguns:

Permit to purchase handgun? No.*
Registration of handguns? No.
Licensing of owners of handguns? No.
Permit to carry handguns? No.

*Waiting Period

Caution: This summary is meant for general purposes only. Firearm laws frequently change and the following answers may not reflect changes in the laws.

Purchase:

A firearm dealer transferring possession of a handgun must have the transferee present identification and detailed information, complete a notification form, and pay a $8.00 fee.

The information from the form is conveyed to the Department of Justice using a toll free telephone number for a background check for criminal history, involuntary commitment, domestic violence and tribal restraining orders.

Forty-eight hours must elapse from the time that the dealer has received a confirmation number regarding the criminal history record search and the dealer has been notified that the transfer will not be in violation of law.

These provisions do not apply to antique handguns, transfers between wholesale or retail dealers, or to law enforcement or armed service agencies.

No pawnbroker, secondhand article dealer or secondhand jewelry dealer may engage in a transaction of purchase, receipt or exchange of any secondhand article, including firearms and ammunition, from a customer without first securing adequate identification from the customer and completing a form detailing a description of the firearm and identifying information on the person from whom received.

Within 24 hours after purchasing or receiving a secondhand firearm or ammunition, a pawnbroker, secondhand article dealer or secondhand jewelry dealer shall make available, for inspection by a law enforcement officer, the original completed form, or the inventory, whichever is appropriate.

Any person denied the right to purchase a handgun because the firearms dealer received a non-approval number may request a firearms restriction record search review under department of justice rules. If the person disagrees with the result of that review, the person may file an appeal under rules promulgated by the department.

Possession:

No state permit is required to possess a rifle, shotgun, or handgun.

It is unlawful for a person under the age of 18 to possess a firearm unless that person is accompanied by a parent or guardian and is target shooting or participating in a firearms training course.

Young hunters between the ages of 10 and 16 may possess firearms under the supervision of a parent or guardian while in the field and/or while enrolled in hunter safety classes.

It is unlawful for a person to possess a firearm if:
Convicted of a felony or found not guilty of a felony by reason of mental illness.
Committed to a mental institution and ordered not to possess a firearm.
Subject of a domestic violence, child abuse or tribal restraining order.

If adjudicated delinquent on or after April 21, 1994, for an act that if committed by an adult would be a felony.
It is unlawful to possess a firearm in, on, or within 1,000 feet from the grounds of a school (school zone). Exempt are private property not part of school grounds, school security guards, law enforcement officers, use in a program approved by the school, unloaded and in a locked container or in a locked firearm rack that is on a motor vehicle, and unloaded and possessed while traversing school ground for the purpose of gaining access to lands open to hunting if the entry on school grounds is authorized by school authorities.

Any pupil determined to unlawfully possess a firearm while at school or while under the supervision of a school authority, will be suspended and be subject to expulsion proceedings.

Carrying:

It is unlawful for any person except a peace officer to go armed with a concealed and dangerous weapon.

There is no statutory provision for obtaining a license or permit to carry a concealed weapon. State law does not prohibit the open carrying of a firearm, but a person should exercise caution when carrying a firearm in public.

It is unlawful to go armed with a firearm in any building owned or leased by the state or any political subdivision of the state.

Antiques & Replicas:

Beginning November 1, 1992 it shall be a crime for a person to sell or distribute any look-alike firearm. Look-alike firearm means any imitation of any original firearm that was manufactured, designed and produced after December 31, 1897, including and limited to toy guns, water guns, replica non-guns and air-soft guns firing nonmetallic projectiles.

The crime does not apply to the restoration of any weapon by a person having a license to collect firearms as curios or relics issued by the U.S. Dept. Of Treasury or to an imitation, non-firing, collector replica of an antique firearm developed prior to 1898, or any traditional bb, paint ball or pellet firing air guns that expels a projectile through the force of air pressure.

Machine Guns and Other Illegal Weapons:

No person may sell, possess, use or transport any machine gun or other full automatic firearm.

A "machine gun" includes any weapon that shoots, is designed to shoot or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.

Exceptions include:
The possession of a machine gun for scientific purpose.
The possession of a machine gun not usable as a weapon and possessed as a curiosity, ornament or keepsake.
The possession of a machine gun other than one adapted to use pistol cartridges for a purpose manifestly not aggressive or offensive. A person may be authorized by the chief of police of any city or the sheriff of any county to sell, possess, use, or transport a machine gun.

"Short-barreled shotgun" means a shotgun having one or more barrels having a length of less than 18 inches measured from closed breech or bolt face to muzzle or a shotgun having an overall length of less than 26 inches.

No person may sell or offer to sell, transport, purchase, possess or go armed with a short-barreled shotgun or short-barreled rifle. Exceptions include armed forces or national guard personnel in line of duty, any peace officer of the United States or of any political subdivision of the United States.

This section does not apply to any firearm that may be lawfully possessed under federal law, or any firearm that could have been lawfully registered at the time of the enactment of the national firearms act of 1968.

Miscellaneous:

It is unlawful to possess any firearm in a wildlife refuge unless the firearm is unloaded and in a case.

No person born on or after January 1, 1973, may obtain any approval authorizing hunting unless the person is issued a Certificate of Accomplishment. Exceptions are allowed if there is evidence that is satisfactory to the department indicating that he or she has completed in another state a hunter safety course and if the course is recognized by the department under a reciprocity agreement or if the person has successfully completed basic training in the U.S. armed forces, reserves or national guard.

Firearms kept for personal use are specifically exempt from personal property taxation. Consumer goods including firearms are also exempt from execution of a judgment if they do not exceed $5,000.00 in aggregate value.

It is unlawful to discharge any firearm within 660 feet of any public park, square or enclosure owned or controlled by any municipality .

It is unlawful to operate or go armed with a firearm while under the influence of an intoxicant. It is unlawful to go armed with a handgun on any premises for which alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed.

It is unlawful to possess, place, or transport in or on any aircraft, vehicle, ATV, or any motor-driven boat while the motor is running, any firearm unless such firearm is unloaded and in a case, and it is also unlawful to load or fire any firearm from such aircraft or vehicle. This prohibition does not apply to vehicles being used to transport individuals in sport shooting activities at sport shooting ranges.

It is unlawful to set a spring gun or set gun which may kill game.

It is unlawful to discharge a firearm while on the lands of another within 100 yards of any building devoted to human occupancy without the express permission of the owner or occupant. "Building" does not include any tent, bus, truck, vehicle or similar portable unit.

It is unlawful to shoot from or across a highway or within 50 feet of the center of a roadway.

It is unlawful to recklessly store or leave a loaded firearm within the reach or easy access of a person under 14 who obtains the firearm without lawful permission and possesses or exhibits the firearm in a public place or discharges the firearm so as to cause bodily harm or death to self or another.

In a commercial transfer the buyer or receiver of a firearm shall be provided with a written warning: "If you leave a loaded firearm within the reach or easy access of a child you may be fined or imprisoned or both if the child improperly discharges, possesses or exhibits the firearm."

No political subdivision may enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution that regulates the sale, purchase, purchase delay, transfer, ownership, use, keeping, possession, bearing, transportation, licensing, permitting, registration or taxation of any firearm or part of a firearm, including ammunition and reloader components, unless the ordinance or resolution is the same as or similar to, and no more stringent than, a state statute.
 

phred

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
768
Location
North Central Wisconsin, ,
more errors?

A firearm dealer transferring possession of a handgun must have the transferee present identification and detailed information, complete a notification form, and pay a $8.00 fee.


It is now $13


It is unlawful for a person under the age of 18 to possess a firearm unless that person is accompanied by a parent or guardian and is target shooting or participating in a firearms training course.

Young hunters between the ages of 10 and 16 may possess firearms under the supervision of a parent or guardian while in the field and/or while enrolled in hunter safety classes.

Ages 14 -16 may hunt w/o supervision if they have Hunter Safety, which of course they would need to procure a hunting license
 

Captain Nemo

Regular Member
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Apr 11, 2010
Messages
1,029
Location
Somewhere, Wisconsin, USA
I should have anticipated the microscope under which this article would endure and stated, as it did in the article, there was a statement that these were the laws as they existed in 2006. Sorry to taint this information with that oversight.
 
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Brass Magnet

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Apr 23, 2009
Messages
2,818
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Right Behind You!, Wisconsin, USA
What was the purpose of posting this if you wouldn't like it corrected?

Even as of 2006, the machinegun portion is incomplete and the SBR (Short Barreled Rifle) section is wrong. We may posses either and supressors if the NFA paperwork/background check is done and approved. The local LEO signoff can be bypassed by using a legal trust.
 

The Don

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May 28, 2010
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in your pants
What was the purpose of posting this if you wouldn't like it corrected?

Even as of 2006, the machinegun portion is incomplete and the SBR (Short Barreled Rifle) section is wrong. We may posses either and supressors if the NFA paperwork/background check is done and approved. The local LEO signoff can be bypassed by using a legal trust.

speaking of this sort of thing, if anyone is knowledgeable about shotgun laws and wouldn't mind answering a question, please PM me so I can avoid taking the thread on a tangent and violating the 'long guns' forum rule.

thanks.
 

Captain Nemo

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2010
Messages
1,029
Location
Somewhere, Wisconsin, USA
Sorry Brass. I guess I hadn't had my morning coffee yet. Perhaps I am too sensitive to the argument nature of this forum. In any regards perhaps you missed the following statement in the information I posted ("This section does not apply to any firearm that may be lawfully possessed under federal law, or any firearm that could have been lawfully registered at the time of the enactment of the national firearms act of 1968"). Be aware the statement only applies to short barreled rifles and shotguns. Following are all the Wisconsin state statutes related to machine guns, short barreled rifles and shotguns. The statement as it appears in statute 941.28(4) which address short barreled rifles and shotguns does not appear to apply to statutes 941.25, 941.26 and 941.27 which address machine guns. If anyone can cite a Wisconsin statute that refutes 941.26(1)(a) as listed below please post it. The only exception I am aware of is found in 941.26(3) which allows an exception if authorized by a cheif of police or county sheriff or if a person has a U.S. Treasury license that allows possession of the weapon as a collector item or curio.


941.25 Manufacturer to register machine guns. Every manufacturer shall keep a register of all machine guns manufactured or handled by him or her. This register shall show the model and serial number, date of manufacture, sale, loan, gift, delivery or receipt, of every machine gun , the name, address, and occupation of the person to whom the machine gun was sold, loaned, given or delivered, or from whom it was received; and the purpose for which it was acquired by the person to whom the machine gun was sold, loaned, given or delivered, or from whom received. Upon demand every manufacturer shall permit any marshal, sheriff or police officer to inspect his or her entire stock of machine guns, parts, and supplies therefor, and shall produce the register required under this section for inspection. Whoever violates any provision of this section is subject to a Class B forfeiture.

941.26 Machine guns and other weapons; use in certain cases; penalty.

941.26(1)
(1)

941.26(1)(a)
(a) No person may sell, possess, use or transport any machine gun or other full automatic firearm.

941.26(1m)
(1m) No person may take a firearm that is not designed to shoot more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger and modify the firearm so that it does shoot more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger

941.26(2)(a)
(a) Any person violating sub. (1) (a) is guilty of a Class H felony.

941.26(2)(b)
(b) Any person violating sub. (1m) is guilty of a Class F felony

941.26(3)
(3) This section does not apply to the sale, possession, modification, use or transportation of any weapons or containers under sub. (1) or (1m) to or by any armed forces or national guard personnel in the line of duty, any civil enforcement officer of the state or of any city or county. This section does not apply to the sale, possession, modification, use or transportation of weapons under sub. (1) (a) or (1m) to or by any person duly authorized by the chief of police of any city or the sheriff of any county. This section does not apply to the restoration of any weapon under sub. (1) (a) or (1m) by a person having a license to collect firearms as curios or relics issued by the U.S. department of the treasury. The restriction on transportation contained in this section does not apply to common carriers.


941.27 Machine guns.

941.27(1)
(1) Definition. In ss. 941.25 and 941.26, "machine gun" means any of the following:


941.27(1)(a)
(a) Any weapon that shoots, is designed to shoot or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.


941.27(1)(b)
(b) The frame or receiver of any weapon described under par. (a) or any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a weapon described under par. (a).


941.27(1)(c)
(c) Any combination of parts from which a weapon described under par. (a) can be assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.


941.27(2)
(2) Exceptions. Sections 941.25 and 941.26 shall not prohibit or interfere with the manufacture for, and sale of, machine guns to the military forces or the peace officers of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, or the transportation required for that purpose; the possession of a machine gun for scientific purpose, or the possession of a machine gun not usable as a weapon and possessed as a curiosity, ornament or keepsake; or the possession of a machine gun other than one adapted to use pistol cartridges for a purpose manifestly not aggressive or offensive.

941.28 Possession of short -barreled shotgun or short -barreled rifle .

941.28(1)
(1) In this section:


941.28(1)(a)
(a) "Rifle" means a firearm designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder or hip and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of a propellant in a metallic cartridge to fire through a rifled barrel a single projectile for each pull of the trigger.


941.28(1)(b)
(b) "Short -barreled rifle" means a rifle having one or more barrels having a length of less than 16 inches measured from closed breech or bolt face to muzzle or a rifle having an overall length of less than 26 inches.


941.28(1)(c)
(c) "Short -barreled shotgun" means a shotgun having one or more barrels having a length of less than 18 inches measured from closed breech or bolt face to muzzle or a shotgun having an overall length of less than 26 inches.


941.28(1)(d)
(d) "Shotgun" means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder or hip and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of a propellant in a fixed shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger.


941.28(2)
(2) No person may sell or offer to sell, transport, purchase, possess or go armed with a short -barreled shotgun or short -barreled rifle .

941.28(3)
(3) Any person violating this section is guilty of a Class H felony.

941.28(4)
(4) This section does not apply to the sale, purchase, possession, use or transportation of a short -barreled shotgun or short -barreled rifle to or by any armed forces or national guard personnel in line of duty, any peace officer of the United States or of any political subdivision of the United States or any person who has complied with the licensing and registration requirements under 26 USC 5801 to 5872. This section does not apply to the manufacture of short -barreled shotguns or short -barreled rifles for any person or group authorized to possess these weapons. The restriction on transportation contained in this section does not apply to common carriers. This section shall not apply to any firearm that may be lawfully possessed under federal law, or any firearm that could have been lawfully registered at the time of the enactment of the national firearms act of 1968.
 

Brass Magnet

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Joined
Apr 23, 2009
Messages
2,818
Location
Right Behind You!, Wisconsin, USA
Sorry Brass. I guess I hadn't had my morning coffee yet. Perhaps I am too sensitive to the argument nature of this forum. In any regards perhaps you missed the following statement in the information I posted ("This section does not apply to any firearm that may be lawfully possessed under federal law, or any firearm that could have been lawfully registered at the time of the enactment of the national firearms act of 1968"). Be aware the statement only applies to short barreled rifles and shotguns. Following are all the Wisconsin state statutes related to machine guns, short barreled rifles and shotguns. The statement as it appears in statute 941.28(4) which address short barreled rifles and shotguns does not appear to apply to statutes 941.25, 941.26 and 941.27 which address machine guns. If anyone can cite a Wisconsin statute that refutes 941.26(1)(a) as listed below please post it. The only exception I am aware of is found in 941.26(3) which allows an exception if authorized by a cheif of police or county sheriff or if a person has a U.S. Treasury license that allows possession of the weapon as a collector item or curio.
Yeah, must have missed it sorry.

I'll have to look through the statutes when I get time. I know people that own them. Some of them went the Chief LEO sign-off route, and others with less than accepting LEO's had to go the route of a legal trust. I haven't looked into the NFA stuff for quite a while.

Where any of the state statutes you quoted recently changed?

ETA:
person duly authorized by the chief of police of any city or the sheriff of any county.
Guess you just call around to every city and county till you get someone to sign off. LOL.

Still looking....
 
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