Wisconsin: Massive Pro-Gun Legislation Package Introduced

Constitutional Carry, a strengthened Right to Keep and Bear Arms amendment in the State Constitution, and a tax holiday on shooting supplies.

Madison, Wis.—Following months of intense grassroots lobbying by members of Wisconsin Gun Owners, Inc.—Wisconsin’s only no-compromise gun rights organization—leaders of a growing coalition of pro-gun rights Republicans in the Wisconsin legislature have introduced a massive pro-gun rights package of bills.

State Rep. Chanz Green (R-74) sponsored the three bills, which include Constitutional Carry (AB609), a strengthened Right to Keep and Bear Arms amendment in the State Constitution (AJR112), and a tax holiday on shooting supplies (AB610).

Constitutional Carry was co-sponsored by State Representatives Armstrong, Behnke, Callahan, Goeben, Kreibich, Maxey, Murphy, Piwowarczyk, Sortwell, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tucker and B. Jacobson; State Senators cosponsoring included Jacque, Bradley, Feyen, Nass, Quinn, Stafsholt, and Wimberger.

“WGO applauds the good work of Rep. Chanz Green, with special thanks for the support provided by State Senators Dan Feyen and Rachael Cabral-Guevera, and State Rep. Clint Moses in the assembly,” said Corey Graff, executive director of WGO. “These legislators have listened to the will of the people and are going on the offense to restore our gun rights.”

WGO said the organization has pushed for the bills since the beginning of this legislative session, always against the protests of the institutional gun lobby and establishment Republicans.

“There is more than sufficient support for this legislation to override a veto,” Graff said. “But it’s up to gun owners to get involved and take action.”

AB609—Constitutional Carry

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law generally prohibits an individual from carrying a concealed weapon unless the individual has either a license to carry a concealed weapon that is issued by the Department of Justice or a law enforcement identification card indicating that he or she is a qualified current or former law enforcement officer. This bill eliminates the general prohibition against going armed with a concealed weapon without regard to whether the individual has such a license or card.
The bill maintains the option to obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon or a law enforcement identification card so that licensees or cardholders may carry a concealed firearm in other states that require licensure and so that they do not violate federal law when possessing a firearm in a school zone. The federal gun-free school zone law generally prohibits the possession of a firearm in a school zone but exempts an individual who is licensed to possess a firearm by the state in which the school zone is located if the license involves a background check on the individual. The bill does not change the current state gun-free school zone law that allows a licensee to carry a firearm in a school zone anywhere but on school grounds and allows a person who has a law enforcement identification card to carry a firearm anywhere in a school zone. The bill also does not change current state law with regards to other places in which only a licensee may carry a firearm, such as wildlife refuges, fish hatcheries, or, if the licensee is not consuming alcohol, taverns.
Under current law, before DOJ may issue a person a license to carry a concealed weapon, DOJ must perform a background check to ensure that the person is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under either state law or federal law. Under the bill, DOJ must perform a background check to ensure that the person is not prohibited from possessing a firearm only under federal law.
Current law prohibits carrying a firearm in certain buildings, such as a police station, a house of correction, or a secure mental health facility. Under current law, the penalty for violating the prohibition varies depending on whether the person has a license to carry a concealed weapon or not. A licensee who violates the prohibition is subject to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both, and a person who does not have a license who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor (which carries a penalty of a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than nine months, or both). In addition, current law prohibits a person without a license from carrying a firearm in other government buildings. The bill eliminates that general prohibition but keeps the prohibition for specific places, such as a police station, a house of corrections, or a secure mental health facility. The bill also adds to the list of prohibited places a place that has been declared a nuisance and any place prohibited under federal law; the bill also eliminates the distinction for penalties based on licensure status so that any person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
The bill also eliminates a prohibition on loading a firearm in a vehicle; under current law, the only exception to this prohibition is for a handgun. The bill also reduces the distance a person must be from a hospital, sanatorium, or school to hunt, from 1,700 feet to 1,200 feet.

AB610—Firearms Sales Tax Exemption

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates a sales and use tax exemption for firearms, including accessories, attachments and parts; bows and arrows for archery and crossbows, including accessories; and ammunition that are sold on July 4 and during the third week of December.

Assembly Joint Resolution 112—RKBA Constitutional Amendment

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Currently, the Wisconsin Constitution guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation, or any other lawful purpose. This constitutional amendment, proposed to the 2025 legislature on first consideration, guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms without qualification. The amendment further provides that the right to keep and bear arms is an inalienable and fundamental individual right that shall never be infringed. Finally, under the amendment, any restriction on the right to keep and bear arms shall be subject to strict scrutiny. Strict scrutiny is a standard of judicial review of government limitations on fundamental rights that generally provides that such a limitation is valid and enforceable only if it is necessary to achieve a compelling state interest, if it is narrowly tailored to its purpose, and if no reasonable less restrictive alternative exists.
A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.
3Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That:
4SECTION 1. Section 25 of article I of the constitution is amended to read:
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1[Article I] Section 25. The people have the inalienable right to keep and bear
2arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation, or any other lawful purpose, which
3right shall never be infringed. The right of the people to keep and bear arms is a
4fundamental individual right, and any restriction on that right shall be subject to
5strict scrutiny.

NEXT STEPS—TAKE ACTION

WGO presently has a surplus of excuse letters, but needs activists to get this legislation across the finish line.
1. Use WGO’s Online Action Center to send a pre-written message to your state representatives, urging them to support AB609, AB610, and AJR112.
2. Is your WGO membership active? Click Here. The direct action mailings WGO sends are the only hope gun owners have of keeping up sufficient pressure to overcome the closet anti-gunners in the Wisconsin legislature.