Chapter 175

175.35(1)(b) (b) “Handgun” means any weapon designed or redesigned, or made or remade, and intended to be fired while held in one hand and to use the energy of an explosive to expel a projectile through a smooth or rifled bore.

175.35(1)(c) (c) “Working day” means each day except Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday under s. 995.20.

175.35(2) (2) When a firearms dealer sells a handgun, he or she may not transfer possession of that handgun to any other person until all of the following have occurred:

175.35(2)(a) (a) The transferee has provided identification as required by rule under sub. (2g) (a).

175.35(2)(b) (b) The transferee has completed the notification form described in sub. (2g) (b).

175.35(2)(c) (c) The firearms dealer has conveyed the information from the completed notification form to the department of justice as required by rule under sub. (2g) (b) and requested a firearms restrictions record search.

175.35(2)(d) (d) The firearms dealer has received an approval number regarding the firearms restrictions record search under sub. (2g) (c) from the department of justice.

175.35(2e) (2e) When a transferee completes the notification form described in sub. (2g) (b), the transferee shall provide truthful information.

175.35(2f) (2f) When a firearms dealer requests that the department of justice provide a firearms restrictions record search under sub. (2g), he or she shall provide truthful information about his or her status as a firearms dealer and shall provide an accurate firearms dealer identification number obtained under sub. (2h). A person may request that the department provide a firearms restrictions record search under sub. (2g) only if he or she is a firearms dealer.

175.35(2g) (2g) 

175.35(2g)(a) (a) The department of justice shall promulgate rules prescribing procedures for a transferee to provide and a firearms dealer to inspect identification containing a photograph of the transferee.

175.35(2g)(b) (b)

175.35(2g)(b)1. 1. The department of justice shall promulgate rules prescribing a notification form for use under sub. (2) requiring the transferee to provide his or her name, date of birth, gender, race and social security number and other identification necessary to permit an accurate firearms restrictions record search under par. (c) 3. and the required notification under par. (c) 4. The department of justice shall make the forms available at locations throughout the state.

175.35(2g)(b)2. 2. The department of justice shall ensure that each notification form under subd. 1. requires the transferee to indicate that he or she is not purchasing the firearm with the purpose or intent to transfer the firearm to a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law and that each notification form informs the transferee that making a false statement with regard to this purpose or intent is a Class H felony.

175.35(2g)(c) (c) The department of justice shall promulgate rules for firearms restrictions record searches regarding transferees under sub. (2), including procedures for all of the following:

175.35(2g)(c)1. 1. A firearms dealer to convey the information from a completed notification form to the department using either a toll-free telephone number provided by the department or an alternative means the department provides.

175.35(2g)(c)2. 2. The department to provide the firearms dealer with a confirmation number confirming the receipt of the information under subd. 1.

175.35(2g)(c)3. 3. The department to conduct the firearms restrictions record search regarding the transferee. The rules shall include, but not be limited to, a requirement that the department use the transaction information for management of enforcement system and the national crime information center system.

175.35(2g)(c)4. 4. The department to notify the dealer as soon after receiving the information under subd. 1. as practicable, of the results of the firearms restrictions record search as follows:

175.35(2g)(c)4.a. a. If the search indicates that the transferee is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29, the department shall provide the firearms dealer with a unique nonapproval number. The department may not disclose to the firearms dealer the reason the transferee is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29.

175.35(2g)(c)4.b. b. If the search indicates that the transferee is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29, the department shall provide the firearms dealer with a unique approval number.

175.35(2g)(c)4.c. c. If the search indicates that it is unclear whether the person is prohibited under state or federal law from possessing a firearm and the department needs more time to make the determination, the department shall make every reasonable effort to determine whether the person is prohibited under state or federal law from possessing a firearm and notify the firearms dealer of the results as soon as practicable but no later than 5 working days after the search was requested.

175.35(2g)(d) (d)

175.35(2g)(d)1. 1. The department of justice shall promulgate rules to convey information in a timely manner to the national instant criminal background check system regarding individuals ordered not to possess a firearm under s. 51.20 (13) (cv) 1., 51.45 (13) (i) 1., 54.10 (3) (f) 1., or 55.12 (10) (a).

175.35(2g)(d)2. 2. The department of justice shall promulgate rules to convey information in a timely manner to the national instant criminal background check system regarding the cancellation under s. 51.20 (13) (cv) 1m. c., 51.45 (13) (i) 2. c., 54.10 (3) (f) 2. c., or 55.12 (10) (b) 3. of an order not to possess a firearm.

175.35(2h) (2h) Upon the request of any firearms dealer, the department of justice shall provide that firearms dealer with a unique firearms dealer identification number for use under this section.

175.35(2i) (2i) The department shall charge a firearms dealer a $10 fee for each firearms restrictions record search that the firearms dealer requests under sub. (2) (c). The firearms dealer may collect the fee from the transferee. The department may refuse to conduct firearms restrictions record searches for any firearms dealer who fails to pay any fee under this subsection within 30 days after billing by the department.

175.35(2j) (2j) A firearms dealer shall maintain the original record of all completed notification forms and a record of all confirmation numbers and corresponding approval or nonapproval numbers that he or she receives regarding firearms restrictions record searches under sub. (2g). If, under sub. (2g) (c) 1., the firearms dealer conveys the information from the notification form using the toll-free telephone number, the firearms dealer shall mail the duplicate copy of each completed notification form to the department of justice. If, under sub. (2g) (c) 1., the firearms dealer conveys the information from the notification form using the alternative means, the firearms dealer shall transmit, using a means the department approves, each completed notification form to the department of justice.

175.35(2k) (2k) 

175.35(2k)(ag) (ag) In this subsection:

175.35(2k)(ag)1. 1. “Law enforcement agency of a physically adjacent state” has the meaning given in s. 175.46 (1) (b).

175.35(2k)(ag)2. 2. “Wisconsin law enforcement agency” means a governmental unit of one or more persons employed by this state or a political subdivision of this state for the purpose of preventing and detecting crime and enforcing state laws or local ordinances, employees of which unit are authorized to make arrests for crimes while acting within the scope of their authority.

175.35(2k)(ar) (ar) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (j) and as necessary to administer this section, the department of justice shall do all of the following:

175.35(2k)(ar)1. 1. Deny access to any record kept under this section.

175.35(2k)(ar)2. 2. Check each notification form received under sub. (2j) against the information recorded by the department regarding the corresponding request for a firearms restrictions record search under sub. (2g). If the department previously provided a unique approval number regarding the request and nothing in the completed notification form indicates that the transferee is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29, the department shall destroy all records regarding that firearms restrictions record search within 30 days after receiving the notification form.

175.35(2k)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (ar), the department of justice may maintain all of the following:

175.35(2k)(b)1. 1. Records necessary to comply with federal law.

175.35(2k)(b)2. 2.

175.35(2k)(b)2.a. a. Except as provided in subd. 2. b., a log of dates of requests for firearms restrictions record searches under sub. (2g) together with confirmation numbers, unique approval and nonapproval numbers and firearms dealer identification numbers corresponding to those dates.

175.35(2k)(b)2.b. b. Within 3 years after the department issues a unique approval number, the department shall destroy all corresponding information contained in the log under subd. 2. a.

175.35(2k)(b)3. 3. Records necessary to administer this section.

175.35(2k)(c) (c) Notwithstanding par. (ar), the department of justice shall provide access to any record under this section under all of the following circumstances:

175.35(2k)(c)1. 1. The department of justice receives a record request that is submitted in writing by a Wisconsin law enforcement agency.

175.35(2k)(c)2. 2. The request submitted under subd. 1. appears on the Wisconsin law enforcement agency’s letterhead and contains all of the following:

175.35(2k)(c)2.a. a. A statement that the Wisconsin law enforcement agency is conducting an investigation of a crime in which a handgun was used or was attempted to be used or was unlawfully possessed.

175.35(2k)(c)2.b. b. A statement by a division commander or higher authority within the Wisconsin law enforcement agency that he or she has a reasonable suspicion that the person who is the subject of the information request has obtained or is attempting to obtain a handgun.

175.35(2k)(c)2.c. c. The signature of a division commander or higher authority within the Wisconsin law enforcement agency.

175.35(2k)(d) (d) Whenever a Wisconsin law enforcement agency makes a request for information under par. (c), the agency shall report to the subject of the information request the fact that a request has been made and the name of the Wisconsin law enforcement agency that made the request. The agency shall make the report whenever the earliest of the following occurs:

175.35(2k)(d)1. 1. The person who is the subject of the information request under par. (c) 2. b. is no longer material to the investigation conducted under par. (c) 2. a.

175.35(2k)(d)2. 2. The Wisconsin law enforcement agency has completed its investigation under par. (c) 2. a.

175.35(2k)(d)3. 3. One year after the date that the Wisconsin law enforcement agency made the request under par. (c).

175.35(2k)(e) (e) A Wisconsin law enforcement agency may disclose information that is provided by the department of justice under par. (c) to another law enforcement agency. If there is a request for information from a requester other than a law enforcement agency, the Wisconsin law enforcement agency shall not disclose information to the requester that is provided by the department of justice under par. (c). If there is a request by a requester other than a law enforcement agency to copy or inspect any record of the Wisconsin law enforcement agency that contains that information, the agency, acting under s. 19.36 (6), shall delete any portion of the record that relates to that information before release.

175.35(2k)(f) (f) A Wisconsin law enforcement agency that is provided access to a record under par. (c) shall destroy all corresponding information contained in the record when the earliest of the following occurs:

175.35(2k)(f)1. 1. The person who is the subject of the information request under par. (c) 2. b. is no longer material to the investigation conducted under par. (c) 2. a.

175.35(2k)(f)2. 2. The Wisconsin law enforcement agency has completed its investigation under par. (c) 2. a.

175.35(2k)(f)3. 3. One year after the date the Wisconsin law enforcement agency made the request under par. (c).

175.35(2k)(g) (g) If a search conducted under sub. (2g) indicates that the transferee is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29, the attorney general or his or her designee may disclose to a law enforcement agency that the transferee has attempted to obtain a handgun.

175.35(2k)(h) (h) If a search conducted under sub. (2g) indicates a felony charge without a recorded disposition and the attorney general or his or her designee has reasonable grounds to believe the transferee may pose a danger to himself, herself or another, the attorney general or his or her designee may disclose to a law enforcement agency that the transferee has obtained or has attempted to obtain a handgun.

175.35(2k)(i) (i) The department of justice may not charge a fee for any services that the department provides under pars. (c) to (j).

175.35(2k)(j) (j) If a law enforcement agency of a physically adjacent state makes a request under par. (c), the department shall comply with the request under all of the following circumstances:

175.35(2k)(j)1. 1. The law enforcement agency of the physically adjacent state agrees to comply with all the requirements under this subsection.

175.35(2k)(j)2. 2. The physically adjacent state allows Wisconsin law enforcement agencies similar or greater access to similar information from that physically adjacent state.

175.35(2L) (2L) The department of justice shall promulgate rules providing for the review of nonapprovals under sub. (2g) (c) 4. a. Any person who is denied the right to purchase a handgun because the firearms dealer received a nonapproval number under sub. (2g) (c) 4. a. may request a firearms restrictions record search review under those rules. If the person disagrees with the results of that review, the person may file an appeal under rules promulgated by the department.

175.35(2t) (2t) This section does not apply to any of the following:

175.35(2t)(a) (a) Transfers of any handgun classified as an antique by regulations of the U.S. department of the treasury.

175.35(2t)(b) (b) Transfers of any handgun between firearms dealers or between wholesalers and dealers.

175.35(2t)(c) (c) Transfers of any handgun to law enforcement or armed services agencies.

175.35(3) (3) 

175.35(3)(a) (a) Any person who intentionally violates sub. (2), (2f), or (2j) shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $10,000 and may be imprisoned for not more than 9 months.

175.35(3)(b) (b)

175.35(3)(b)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., a person who intentionally violates sub. (2e) shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $10,000 and may be imprisoned for not more than 9 months.

175.35(3)(b)2. 2. A person who violates sub. (2e) by intentionally providing false information regarding whether he or she is purchasing the firearm with the purpose or intent to transfer the firearm to another who the person knows or reasonably should know is prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law is guilty of a Class H felony. The penalty shall include a fine that is not less than $500.

175.35(4) (4) The department of justice or the district attorney may institute, manage, control, and direct, in the proper county, a prosecution for a violation of sub. (2e) that is punishable under sub. (3) (b) 2. When prosecuting such a violation, the department of justice shall have and exercise all powers conferred upon district attorneys.

175.35 History History: 1975 c. 167; 1991 a. 11; 1993 a. 16, 195, 196; 1995 a. 71, 77, 159, 306; 2005 a. 155, 344; 2009 a. 28, 258; 2013 a. 20, 109; 2013 a. 168 s. 21; 2013 a. 223; 2015 a. 22, 352; 2017 a. 145.

175.35 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Jus 10, Wis. adm. code.

175.35 Annotation Under this section, a firearms dealer, as defined in sub. (1) (ar), is subject to certain state and federal requirements when transferring firearms. The defendant in this case, which operated a website that hosted third-party advertisements for the sale and purchase of firearms, was not a firearms dealer under that definition. Because doing so would have contravened the Wisconsin legislature’s judgment on which entities—i.e., firearms dealers—will be held liable for meeting the requirements of state and federal law, a negligence claim was not allowed against the defendant. Webber v. Armslist LLC, 70 F.4th 945 (2023).

175.37 175.37 Warning whenever transferring a firearm.

175.37(1) (1) Upon the retail commercial sale or retail commercial transfer of any firearm, the seller or transferor shall provide to the buyer or transferee the following written warning in block letters not less than one-fourth inch in height: “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.”

175.37(2) (2) Any person who violates sub. (1) may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than 30 days or both.

175.37 History History: 1991 a. 139.

175.38 175.38 Enforcement of video gambling law.

175.38(1) (1) In this section, “law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c) but does not include a special agent of the department of revenue.

175.38(2) (2) Notwithstanding s. 945.041, no law enforcement officer may investigate violations of or otherwise enforce s. 945.03 (2m) or 945.04 (2m).

175.38(3) (3) No law enforcement officer may investigate violations of or otherwise enforce s. 945.05 (1m) unless he or she reasonably believes that the video gambling machine involved may be used in connection with a violation of ch. 945 other than a violation of s. 945.03 (2m) or 945.04 (2m).

175.38 History History: 2003 a. 33.

175.40 175.40 Arrests; assistance.

175.40(1) (1) In this section:

175.40(1)(a) (a) “Highway” has the meaning specified in s. 340.01 (22).

175.40(1)(b) (b) “Intersection” has the meaning specified in s. 340.01 (25).