Wisconsin Gun Laws

Concealed Carry

Wisconsin requires a Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license for concealed carry, issued by the Department of Justice. Wisconsin is a shall-issue state. Applicants must complete a firearms training course and be at least 21 years old. The license is valid for five years and costs $40.

Key statute: Wisconsin Statutes § 175.60 — license to carry a concealed weapon.

Open Carry

Open carry is legal in Wisconsin without a permit for anyone who can legally possess a firearm. However, some municipalities may have local ordinances affecting open carry in certain circumstances.

Who Cannot Carry

Prohibited persons include: convicted felons, persons adjudicated as mentally defective or committed to a mental institution, persons subject to domestic abuse or harassment injunctions, persons convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence, persons under 21 (for CCW), unlawful users of controlled substances, and illegal aliens.

Prohibited Locations

Wisconsin prohibits carry in: police stations and sheriff offices, prisons and jails, courthouses, the state capitol, mental health facilities, school grounds (K-12), secure areas of airports, taverns (locations where more than 50% of revenue comes from alcohol sales), and university buildings (institutional policy). Federal buildings are also prohibited under federal law.

Purchase Requirements

Wisconsin requires a background check for all handgun sales from licensed dealers through the state DOJ Handgun Hotline. There is a 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases. Private sales do not require a background check. There is no state firearms registry, no assault weapons ban, and no magazine capacity restriction.

Citations

Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 175 (miscellaneous police provisions, including § 175.60 CCW); Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 941 (crimes against public peace, order, and other interests — including weapons offenses).

Sources & official resources