LRB-0794/1
RPN:wlj:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
January 27, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Pettis, Suder, Albers, J.
Fitzgerald, Freese, Gunderson, Gundrum, Hahn, Hines, Jensen, Kestell, F.
Lasee, McCormick, Montgomery, Musser, Nass, Nerison, Ott, Vos
and
Vrakas, cosponsored by Senators Kedzie, Grothman, Leibham, Kanavas,
Kapanke, A. Lasee
and Reynolds. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AB56,1,4 1An Act to create 895.45 of the statutes; relating to: actions against sport
2shooting range owners or operators, against gun or sportsman's clubs, and
3against manufacturers, importers, trade associations, or dealers of firearms,
4firearm components, or firearm ammunition.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill prohibits the state, cities, villages, towns, counties, and school
districts, and departments, divisions, boards, and agencies of these units of
government, from bringing an action against a person who imports, manufactures,
or deals in firearms, firearm components, or firearm ammunition or against a
firearm trade association, gun or sportsman's club, or sport shooting range owner or
operator, under a nuisance theory or for damages or injunctive relief relating to the
design, distribution, manufacture, marketing, or sale of firearms, firearm
components, or firearm ammunition. The bill does not prevent these units of
government from suing the importers, manufacturers, dealers, trade associations,
clubs, or ranges for a breach of a warranty or contract for firearms, firearm
components, or firearm ammunition purchased by the unit of government or for the
design, distribution, manufacture, marketing, or sale of firearms, firearm
components, or firearm ammunition in violation of a state or federal law that could
result in a civil or criminal penalty.
The bill grants firearm importers, manufacturers, dealers, and trade
associations immunity from civil liability in any action for an injury or death caused
by a firearm, a firearm component, or firearm ammunition. Immunity from civil

liability is granted also to gun or sportsman's clubs and sport shooting range owners
or operators for an injury or death caused by a firearm, a firearm component, or
firearm ammunition if the action is based on the club's or range's participation in the
distribution, marketing, sale, or other transfer of a firearm, a firearm component, or
firearm ammunition.
These immunities do not apply if the injury or death was caused by any of the
following:
1. A defect in the workmanship or materials of a firearm, a firearm component,
or firearm ammunition.
2. A firearm, a firearm component, or firearm ammunition that was
manufactured or sold in violation of a state or federal law that could result in a civil
or criminal penalty.
3. The negligent handling of a firearm, a firearm component, or firearm
ammunition if the negligent handling was by a firearm importer, manufacturer,
dealer, or trade association, gun or sportsman's club, or sport shooting range owner
or operator in actual physical possession of the firearm, firearm component, or
firearm ammunition.
4. A firearm, a firearm component, or firearm ammunition that a firearm
importer, manufacturer, dealer, or trade association, gun or sportsman's club, or
sport shooting range owner or operator used in violation of a state or federal law that
could result in a civil or criminal penalty or used while committing another act that
violates a state or federal law that could result in a civil or criminal penalty.
The bill also prohibits a person from bringing an action for an injunction
against a firearm importer, manufacturer, dealer, or trade association, gun or
sportsman's club, or sport shooting range owner or operator in any action for an
injury or death caused by a firearm, a firearm component, or firearm ammunition.
This prohibition does not apply if the injury or death was caused by any of the
following:
1. A defect in the workmanship or materials of a firearm, a firearm component,
or firearm ammunition.
2. A firearm, a firearm component, or firearm ammunition that was
manufactured or sold in violation of a state or federal law that could result in a civil
or criminal penalty.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB56, s. 1 1Section 1. 895.45 of the statutes is created to read:
AB56,2,4 2895.45 Actions against sport shooting range owners or operators, gun
3or sportsman's clubs, firearm or firearm ammunition dealers, or firearm
4trade associations.
(1) In this section:
AB56,3,1
1(a) "Firearm" means a weapon that acts by force of gunpowder.
AB56,3,52 (b) "Firearm dealer" means any person engaged in the business of importing,
3manufacturing, or dealing in firearms or firearm components and having a license
4as an importer, a manufacturer, or a dealer issued by the U.S. department of the
5treasury.
AB56,3,76 (c) "Firearm trade association" means a national or statewide trade association
7that derives income from membership dues of firearm dealers.
AB56,3,98 (d) "Local governmental unit" means a city, village, town, county, or school
9district.
AB56,3,1010 (e) "Sport shooting range" has the meaning given in s. 895.527 (1).
AB56,3,17 11(2) The state, a local governmental unit, and every department, division,
12board, or agency of the state or of a local governmental unit, may not bring an action
13against a firearm dealer, a firearm trade association, a manufacturer, an importer,
14or a dealer of firearm ammunition, a gun or sportsman's club, or a sport shooting
15range owner or operator for damages resulting from, or injunctive relief relating to,
16the design, distribution, manufacture, marketing, or sale of firearms, firearm
17components, or firearm ammunition or under any nuisance theory.
AB56,3,21 18(3) Subsection (2) does not prohibit the state, a local governmental unit, or a
19department, division, board, or agency of the state or of a local governmental unit,
20from bringing an action against a firearm dealer, a firearm trade association, or a
21manufacturer, an importer, or a dealer of firearm ammunition:
AB56,3,2422 (a) For breach of contract or warranty as to a firearm, a firearm component, or
23firearm ammunition purchased by the state, by a local governmental unit, or by a
24department, division, board, or agency of the state or of a local governmental unit.
AB56,4,11
1(b) Related to a firearm, a firearm component, or firearm ammunition that was
2designed, distributed, manufactured, marketed, or sold in violation of a state or
3federal law that could result in a criminal penalty or civil forfeiture. An action that
4is permitted under this paragraph may be brought only against a person who
5violated a state or federal law that could result in a criminal penalty or civil forfeiture
6and only if the harm giving rise to the action was proximately caused by the person's
7violation of a state or federal law that could result in a criminal penalty or civil
8forfeiture. The fact that a firearm, a firearm component, or firearm ammunition was
9designed, distributed, manufactured, or sold in violation of a state or federal law that
10could result in a criminal penalty or civil forfeiture must be shown by clear and
11convincing evidence.
AB56,4,13 12(4) The court shall dismiss any action commenced or pending that is prohibited
13by sub. (2).
AB56,4,17 14(5) (a) 1. A firearm dealer, a firearm trade association, or a manufacturer, an
15importer, or a dealer of firearm ammunition is immune from civil liability in any
16action for an injury or death caused by a firearm, a firearm component, or firearm
17ammunition.
AB56,4,2318 2. A gun or sportsman's club or a sport shooting range owner or operator is
19immune from civil liability in any action for an injury or death caused by a firearm,
20a firearm component, or firearm ammunition, if the action is based on the
21participation by the gun or sportsman's club or the sport shooting range owner or
22operator in the distribution, marketing, sale, or other transfer of the firearm, firearm
23component, or ammunition.
AB56,5,224 (b) 1. No injunctive relief may be granted against a firearm dealer, a firearm
25trade association, or a manufacturer, an importer, or a dealer of firearm ammunition

1in any action for an injury or death caused by a firearm, a firearm component, or
2firearm ammunition.
AB56,5,83 2. No injunctive relief may be granted against a gun or sportsman's club or
4against a sport shooting range owner or operator in any action for an injury or death
5caused by a firearm, a firearm component, or firearm ammunition, if the action is
6based on the participation by the gun or sportsman's club or the sport shooting range
7owner or operator in the distribution, marketing, sale, or other transfer of the
8firearm, firearm component, or ammunition.
AB56,5,99 (c) The immunity under par. (a) does not apply to any of the following:
AB56,5,1410 1. An injury or death caused by the negligent handling of a firearm, a firearm
11component, or firearm ammunition by an individual covered under par. (a) if, at the
12time of the act or omission that constitutes the negligent handling, the individual is
13in actual physical possession of the firearm, firearm component, or firearm
14ammunition.
AB56,5,1915 2. An injury or death caused by a firearm, a firearm component, or firearm
16ammunition that an individual covered under par. (a) uses in violation of a state or
17federal law that could result in a criminal penalty or civil forfeiture or that an
18individual covered under par. (a) uses while committing another act that violates a
19state or federal law that could result in a criminal penalty or civil forfeiture.
AB56,5,2120 (d) The immunity under par. (a) and the prohibition under par. (b) do not apply
21to any of the following:
AB56,5,2322 1. An injury or death that was caused by a defect in the workmanship or
23materials of a firearm, a firearm component, or firearm ammunition.
AB56,6,824 2. An injury or death that was caused by a firearm, a firearm component, or
25firearm ammunition that was manufactured or sold in violation of a state or federal

1law that could result in a criminal penalty or civil forfeiture. An action that is
2permitted under this subdivision may be brought only against a person who violated
3a state or federal law that could result in a criminal penalty or civil forfeiture and
4only if the harm giving rise to the action was proximately caused by the person's
5violation of a state or federal law that could result in a criminal penalty or civil
6forfeiture. The fact that the firearm, firearm component, or firearm ammunition was
7manufactured or sold in violation of a state or federal law that could result in a
8criminal penalty or civil forfeiture must be shown by clear and convincing evidence.
AB56, s. 2 9Section 2. Initial applicability.
AB56,6,1110 (1) This act first applies to actions commenced on the effective date of this
11subsection.
AB56,6,1212 (End)
Loading...
Loading...