Chapter 941

941.23(1)(g)4. 4. The person meets all standards established by the agency to qualify the person on a regular basis to use a firearm.

941.23(1)(g)5. 5. The person is not prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm.

941.23(2) (2) Any person, other than one of the following, who carries a concealed and dangerous weapon is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor:

941.23(2)(a) (a) A peace officer, but notwithstanding s. 939.22, for purposes of this paragraph, peace officer does not include a commission warden who is not a state-certified commission warden.

941.23(2)(am) (am) A person who is certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional under s. 165.85 (3) while acting in the line of duty.

941.23(2)(b) (b) A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer. This paragraph applies only if all of the following apply:

941.23(2)(b)1. 1. The weapon is a firearm but is not a machine gun or a destructive device.

941.23(2)(b)2. 2. The officer is not carrying a firearm silencer.

941.23(2)(b)3. 3. The officer is not under the influence of an intoxicant.

941.23(2)(c) (c) A former officer. This paragraph applies only if all of the following apply:

941.23(2)(c)1. 1. The former officer has been issued a photographic identification document described in sub. (3) (b) 1. or both of the following:

941.23(2)(c)1.a. a. A photographic identification document described in sub. (3) (b) 2. (intro.).

941.23(2)(c)1.b. b. An identification card described in sub. (3) (b) 2. a., if the former officer resides in this state, or a certification described in sub. (3) (b) 2. b., if the former officer resides in another state.

941.23(2)(c)2. 2. The weapon is a firearm that is of the type described in a photographic identification document described in subd. 1. (intro.) or a card or certification described in subd. 1. b.

941.23(2)(c)3. 3. Within the preceding 12 months, the former officer met the standards of the state in which he or she resides for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry firearms.

941.23(2)(c)4. 4. The weapon is not a machine gun or a destructive device.

941.23(2)(c)5. 5. The former officer is not carrying a firearm silencer.

941.23(2)(c)6. 6. The former officer is not under the influence of an intoxicant.

941.23(2)(c)7. 7. The former officer is not prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm.

941.23(2)(d) (d) A licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g), if the dangerous weapon is a weapon, as defined under s. 175.60 (1) (j). An individual formerly licensed under s. 175.60 whose license has been suspended or revoked under s. 175.60 (14) may not assert his or her refusal to accept a notice of revocation or suspension mailed under s. 175.60 (14) (b) 1. as a defense to prosecution under this subsection, regardless of whether the person has complied with s. 175.60 (11) (b) 1.

941.23(2)(e) (e) An individual who carries a concealed and dangerous weapon, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (j), in his or her own dwelling or place of business or on land that he or she owns, leases, or legally occupies.

941.23(3) (3) 

941.23(3)(a) (a) A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer shall, while carrying a concealed firearm, also have with him or her an identification card that contains his or her photograph and that was issued by the law enforcement agency by which he or she is employed.

941.23(3)(b) (b) A former officer shall, while carrying a concealed firearm, also have with him or her one of the following:

941.23(3)(b)1. 1. A photographic identification document issued by the law enforcement agency from which the former officer separated that indicates that, within the 12 months preceding the date on which the former officer is carrying the concealed firearm, he or she was tested or otherwise found by that law enforcement agency to meet the standards for qualification in firearms training that that law enforcement agency sets for active law enforcement officers to carry a firearm of the same type as the firearm that the former officer is carrying.

941.23(3)(b)2. 2. A photographic identification document issued by the law enforcement agency from which the former officer separated and one of the following:

941.23(3)(b)2.a. a. A certification card issued under s. 175.49 (2) or (3), if the former officer resides in this state.

941.23(3)(b)2.b. b. A certification issued by the state in which the former officer resides, if the former officer resides in another state, that indicates that, within the 12 months preceding the date on which the former officer is carrying the concealed firearm, he or she has been found by the state in which he or she resides, or by a certified firearms instructor if such an instructor is qualified to conduct a firearms qualification test for active law enforcement officers in that state, to meet the standards for qualification in firearms training for active law enforcement officers to carry a firearm of the type he or she is carrying, that are established by his or her state of residence or, if that state does not establish standards, by any law enforcement agency in his or her state of residence.

941.23(3)(c) (c) A person who violates this subsection may be required to forfeit not more than $25, except that the person shall be exempted from the forfeiture if the person presents, within 48 hours, his or her license document or out-of-state license and photographic identification to the law enforcement agency that employs the requesting law enforcement officer.

941.23(3)(d) (d) This subsection does not apply to a licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g).

941.23 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1979 c. 115, 221; 2007 a. 27; 2011 a. 35; 2015 a. 68, 149, 197; 2023 a. 218.

941.23 Annotation The burden is on the defendant to prove that the defendant is a peace officer and within the exception. State v. Williamson, 58 Wis. 2d 514, 206 N.W.2d 613 (1973).

941.23 Annotation A defendant was properly convicted under this section for driving a vehicle with a gun locked in a glove compartment. State v. Fry, 131 Wis. 2d 153, 388 N.W.2d 565 (1986).

941.23 Annotation To “go armed” does not require going anywhere. The elements for a violation of this section are: 1) a dangerous weapon is on the defendant’s person or within reach; 2) the defendant is aware of the weapon’s presence; and 3) the weapon is hidden. State v. Keith, 175 Wis. 2d 75, 498 N.W.2d 865 (Ct. App. 1993).

941.23 Annotation A handgun on the seat of a car that was indiscernible from ordinary observation by a person outside, and within the immediate vicinity, of the vehicle was hidden from view for purposes of determining whether the gun was a concealed weapon under this section. State v. Walls, 190 Wis. 2d 65, 526 N.W.2d 765 (Ct. App. 1994).

941.23 Annotation There is no statutory or common law privilege for the crime of carrying a concealed weapon under this section. State Dundon, 226 Wis. 2d 654, 594 N.W.2d 780 (1999), 97-1423.

941.23 Annotation Under the facts of this case, the privilege of self-defense was inapplicable to a charge of carrying a concealed weapon. State v. Nollie, 2002 WI 4, 249 Wis. 2d 538, 638 N.W.2d 280, 00-0744.

941.23 Annotation The concealed weapons statute is a restriction on the manner in which firearms are possessed and used. It is constitutional under article I, section 25, of the Wisconsin Constitution. Only if the public benefit in the exercise of the police power is substantially outweighed by an individual’s need to conceal a weapon in the exercise of the right to bear arms will an otherwise valid restriction on that right be unconstitutional, as applied. The right to keep and bear arms for security, as a general matter, must permit a person to possess, carry, and sometimes conceal arms to maintain the security of a private residence or privately operated business, and to safely move and store weapons within those premises. State v. Hamdan, 2003 WI 113, 264 Wis. 2d 433, 665 N.W.2d 785, 01-0056. See also State v. Cole, 2003 WI 112, 264 Wis. 2d 520, 665 N.W.2d 328, 01-0350.

941.23 Annotation A challenge on constitutional grounds of a prosecution for carrying a concealed weapon requires affirmative answers to the following before the defendant may raise the constitutional defense: 1) under the circumstances, did the defendant’s interest in concealing the weapon to facilitate exercise of the defendant’s right to keep and bear arms substantially outweigh the state’s interest in enforcing the concealed weapons statute; and 2) did the defendant conceal the defendant’s weapon because concealment was the only reasonable means under the circumstances to exercise the defendant’s right to bear arms? State v. Hamdan, 2003 WI 113, 264 Wis. 2d 433, 665 N.W.2d 785, 01-0056.

941.23 Annotation This section is constitutional as applied in this case. The defendant’s interest in exercising his right to keep and bear arms for purposes of security by carrying a concealed weapon in his vehicle did not substantially outweigh the state’s interest in prohibiting the defendant from carrying a concealed weapon in his vehicle. State v. Fisher, 2006 WI 44, 290 Wis. 2d 121, 714 N.W.2d 495, 04-2989.

941.23 Annotation Although the standard jury instruction provides that “[a] firearm is a weapon that acts by force of gunpowder,” the state was not required to present evidence that a firearm operated by force of gunpowder. Essentially, both the supreme court and court of appeals have taken judicial notice of the fact that it is common knowledge that the guns at issue in previous cases operated as dangerous weapons because they used gunpowder to fire projectiles. State v. Powell, 2012 WI App 33, 340 Wis. 2d 423, 812 N.W.2d 520, 11-0630.

941.23 Annotation Sub. (2) and s. 167.31 (2) (b) are not in conflict. The defendant could have complied with both by either obtaining a license to carry a concealed weapon under s. 175.60 or by placing the loaded handgun out of reach. State v. Grandberry, 2018 WI 29, 380 Wis. 2d 541, 910 N.W.2d 214, 16-0173.

941.23 Annotation Sub. (2) is not unconstitutionally vague. A person of ordinary intelligence has sufficient notice that carrying a concealed and dangerous weapon is unlawful unless one of the enumerated exceptions under sub. (2) (a) to (e) applies. State v. Grandberry, 2018 WI 29, 380 Wis. 2d 541, 910 N.W.2d 214, 16-0173.

941.23 Annotation Judges are not peace officers authorized to carry concealed weapons. 69 Atty. Gen. 66.

941.231 941.231 Carrying a concealed knife. Any person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29 who goes armed with a concealed knife that is a dangerous weapon is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

941.231 History History: 2015 a. 149.

941.235 941.235 Carrying firearm in public building.

941.235(1) (1) Any person who goes armed with a firearm in any building owned or leased by the state or any political subdivision of the state is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

941.235(2) (2) This section does not apply to any of the following:

941.235(2)(a) (a) Peace officers or armed forces or military personnel who go armed in the line of duty or to any person duly authorized by the chief of police of any city, village or town, the chief of the capitol police, or the sheriff of any county to possess a firearm in any building under sub. (1). Notwithstanding s. 939.22 (22), for purposes of this paragraph, peace officer does not include a commission warden who is not a state-certified commission warden.

941.235(2)(c) (c) A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (g), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.

941.235(2)(d) (d) A former officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (c), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (c) 1. to 7. applies.

941.235(2)(e) (e) A licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g).

941.235 History History: 1979 c. 221; 1991 a. 172; 1993 a. 246; 2001 a. 109; 2007 a. 27; 2011 a. 35.

941.237 941.237 Carrying handgun where alcohol beverages may be sold and consumed.

941.237(1) (1) In this section:

941.237(1)(a) (a) “Alcohol beverages” has the meaning given in s. 125.02 (1).

941.237(1)(b) (b) “Correctional officer” means any person employed by the state or any political subdivision as a guard or officer whose principal duties are the supervision and discipline of inmates.

941.237(1)(c) (c) “Encased” has the meaning given in s. 167.31 (1) (b).

941.237(1)(cm) (cm) “Firearms dealer” means any person engaged in the business of importing, manufacturing or dealing in firearms and having a license as an importer, manufacturer or dealer issued by the federal government.

941.237(1)(d) (d) “Handgun” has the meaning given in s. 175.35 (1) (b).

941.237(1)(dm) (dm) “Hotel” has the meaning given in s. 97.01 (7).

941.237(1)(dr) (dr) Notwithstanding s. 939.22 (22), “peace officer” does not include a commission warden who is not a state-certified commission warden.

941.237(1)(e) (e) “Premises” has the meaning given in s. 125.02 (14m), but excludes any area primarily used as a residence.

941.237(1)(em) (em) “Private security person” has the meaning given in s. 440.26 (1m).

941.237(1)(f) (f) “Target range” means any area where persons are allowed to use a handgun to fire shots at targets.

941.237(1)(fm) (fm) “Tavern” means an establishment, other than a private club or fraternal organization, in which alcohol beverages are sold for consumption on the premises.

941.237(1)(g) (g) “Unloaded” means any of the following:

941.237(1)(g)1. 1. Having no shell or cartridge in the chamber of a handgun or in the magazine attached to a handgun.

941.237(1)(g)2. 2. In the case of a caplock muzzle-loading handgun, having the cap removed.

941.237(1)(g)3. 3. In the case of a flintlock muzzle-loading handgun, having the flashpan cleaned of powder.

941.237(2) (2) Whoever intentionally goes armed with a handgun on any premises for which a Class “B” or “Class B” license or permit has been issued under ch. 125 is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

941.237(3) (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to any of the following:

941.237(3)(a) (a) A peace officer.

941.237(3)(b) (b) A correctional officer while going armed in the line of duty.

941.237(3)(c) (c) A member of the U.S. armed forces or national guard while going armed in the line of duty.

941.237(3)(cm) (cm) A private security person meeting all of the following criteria:

941.237(3)(cm)1. 1. The private security person is covered by a license or permit issued under s. 440.26.

941.237(3)(cm)2. 2. The private security person is going armed in the line of duty.

941.237(3)(cm)3. 3. The private security person is acting with the consent of the person specified in par. (d).

941.237(3)(cr) (cr) A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (g), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.

941.237(3)(ct) (ct) A former officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (c), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (c) 1. to 7. applies.

941.237(3)(cx) (cx) A licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g), if the licensee or out-of-state licensee is not consuming alcohol on the premises.

941.237(3)(d) (d) The licensee, owner, or manager of the premises, or any employee or agent authorized to possess a handgun by the licensee, owner, or manager of the premises.

941.237(3)(e) (e) The possession of a handgun that is unloaded and encased in a vehicle in any parking lot area.

941.237(3)(f) (f) The possession or use of a handgun at a public or private gun or sportsmen’s range or club.

941.237(3)(g) (g) The possession or use of a handgun on the premises if authorized for a specific event of limited duration by the owner or manager of the premises who is issued the Class “B” or “Class B” license or permit under ch. 125 for the premises.

941.237(3)(h) (h) The possession of any handgun that is used for decoration if the handgun is encased, inoperable or secured in a locked condition.

941.237(3)(i) (i) The possession of a handgun in any portion of a hotel other than the portion of the hotel that is a tavern.