Wisconsin is a shall-issue state for Concealed Carry Licenses (CCL) under Wis. Stat. § 175.60. You must be 21, pass a background check, and complete a training course (e.g., hunter safety or firearms class). Concealed carry without a CCL is a misdemeanor (up to 9 months) per Wis. Stat. § 941.23. Prohibited places include schools, courthouses, and bars unless permitted by the owner (Wis. Stat. § 943.13). Open carry is allowed without a permit.
Costs: CCL fee is $40 for 5 years; training costs $50-$100.
Processing Time: Up to 21 days.
Renewal: $40 every 5 years, no retraining required.
Reciprocity: WI honors permits from over 30 states; over 20 states honor WI’s CCL.
Wisconsin allows open carry without a permit for those 18+ who can legally possess a firearm (Wis. Stat. § 941.23, interpreted as not prohibiting open carry). Restrictions apply in schools, courthouses, and private property with signage (Wis. Stat. § 943.13). Violations are misdemeanors (up to 9 months).
Wisconsin has no state bans on assault weapons or large-capacity magazines. Machine guns (Wis. Stat. § 941.26), short-barreled rifles or shotguns (Wis. Stat. § 941.28), and silencers (Wis. Stat. § 941.298) require federal ATF compliance under the National Firearms Act. Violations of these state laws are Class H felonies (up to 6 years), or up to 10 years under federal law.
Costs: ATF tax stamp is $200 per item.
Processing Time: 6-12 months for ATF approval.
Wisconsin complies with FOPA (18 U.S.C. § 926A). Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a case or trunk for transport. No state-specific restrictions beyond federal law apply.
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Wisconsin requires a background check for handgun purchases from dealers with a 48-hour waiting period (Wis. Stat. § 175.35). Age minimum is 21 for handguns, 18 for long guns. No waiting period for long guns. Private sales are unregulated. Violations of selling to prohibited persons (Wis. Stat. § 941.29) are felonies (up to 10 years).
Costs: Background check is $10; dealers may charge $10-$25 extra.
Processing Time: 48 hours for handguns; instant to 3 days for long guns if delayed.
Wisconsin imposes no state requirement for firearm registration. There’s no mandate to report lost or stolen guns. NFA items like machine guns or silencers must be federally registered per Wis. Stat. § 941.298. Violations of federal NFA rules are felonies (up to 10 years).
Costs: Federal tax stamp is $200.
Wisconsin has no general storage laws but prohibits providing firearms to minors under 18 without parental consent or supervision (Wis. Stat. § 948.60). Violations are misdemeanors (up to 9 months) or felonies (up to 10 years) if harm occurs.
Sources: [1]
Wisconsin has a strong Castle Doctrine under Wis. Stat. § 939.48. Deadly force is justified in your home, vehicle, or business if you reasonably believe it’s necessary to prevent imminent harm, with a presumption of reasonableness (Wis. Stat. § 895.62). No duty to retreat applies in these cases. Excessive force risks manslaughter (up to 20 years).