Chapter 941

941.291(3) (3) Penalty.

941.291(3)(a) (a) Whoever violates sub. (2) is guilty of a Class E felony.

941.291(3)(b) (b) Whoever violates sub. (2) after being convicted of violating sub. (2) is guilty of a Class D felony.

941.291(4) (4) Request by certain persons for complete or partial exemption from prohibition.

941.291(4)(a) (a) A person who is otherwise prohibited from possessing body armor under sub. (2) may request a complete or partial exemption from the prohibition if all of the following apply:

941.291(4)(a)1. 1. The person has a reasonable need to possess body armor to ensure his or her personal safety, to earn a livelihood, or as a condition of employment.

941.291(4)(a)2. 2. The person is likely to use the body armor in a safe and lawful manner.

941.291(4)(b) (b) A person seeking a complete or partial exemption under this subsection from the prohibition under sub. (2) shall request the exemption by filing a written motion in the circuit court for the county in which the person will possess the body armor. A person who files a motion under this paragraph shall send a copy of the motion to the district attorney for the county in which the motion is filed. The district attorney shall make a reasonable attempt to contact the county sheriff and, if applicable, the chief of police of a city, village, or town in the county in which the person will possess the body armor for the purpose of informing the sheriff and the chief of police that the person has made a request for an exemption and to solicit from the sheriff and chief of police any information that may be relevant to the criteria specified in par. (a) 1. and 2.

941.291(4)(c) (c) A court deciding whether to grant a request for an exemption made under par. (b) may deny the request for an exemption, grant a complete exemption from the prohibition, or grant a partial exemption by allowing possession of body armor only under certain specified circumstances or in certain locations or both. In deciding whether a person satisfies the criteria specified in par. (a) 1. and 2. and, if so, whether to grant an exemption, the court shall consider the person’s character, including the person’s criminal record, the totality of the person’s circumstances, and any relevant evidence of the person’s character and circumstances, including any relevant evidence submitted by the district attorney who received the copy of the motion under par. (b).

941.291(4)(d) (d) If a court grants a request for an exemption under par. (c), the court shall issue a written order of exemption to the person who requested the exemption. The exemption is valid only in the county in which the court is located. If the exemption is a partial exemption, the order shall specify the circumstances under which the person may possess body armor, the locations in which the person may possess body armor, or, if applicable, both. The person granted the exemption shall carry a copy of the order of exemption at all times during which he or she is in possession of body armor. The clerk of the circuit court shall send a copy of the order of exemption to the county sheriff and, if applicable, to the chief of police of a city, village, or town in the county in which the person will possess the body armor.

941.291(5) (5) Exemption based on request of law enforcement agency for certain witnesses and informers. A person who is otherwise prohibited from possessing body armor under sub. (2) may wear body armor if the person is furnishing or has furnished information to a law enforcement agency relating to a possible violation of law or is assisting or has assisted a law enforcement agency in an investigation of a possible violation of law and is wearing the body armor at the request or direction of the law enforcement agency.

941.291(5m) (5m) Exemption based on request by certain witnesses and informers.

941.291(5m)(a) (a) A person who is otherwise prohibited from possessing body armor under sub. (2) may possess body armor if all of the following apply:

941.291(5m)(a)2. 2. The law enforcement agency to which the person is furnishing or has furnished information or to which the person is providing or has provided assistance determines that there is reason to believe that the person may be in danger of suffering death or great bodily harm because he or she is furnishing or has furnished information or because he or she is assisting or has assisted or is assisting in an investigation.

941.291(5m)(a)3. 3. The law enforcement agency to which the person is furnishing or has furnished information or to which the person is providing or has provided assistance approves of the person’s request to possess body armor under par. (b).

941.291(5m)(b) (b) A person seeking an exemption under this subsection from the prohibition under sub. (2) shall request the exemption from the law enforcement agency to which the person is furnishing or has furnished information or to which the person is providing or has provided assistance. The law enforcement agency may deny the request for an exemption, grant a complete exemption from the prohibition, or grant a partial exemption by allowing possession of body armor only under certain specified circumstances or in certain locations or both. If the law enforcement agency grants a request for an exemption under this subsection, it shall keep a written record of the exemption. If the exemption is a partial exemption, the record shall specify the circumstances under which the person may possess body armor, the locations in which the person may possess body armor, or, if applicable, both. A written record relating to an exemption granted by a law enforcement agency under this subsection is not subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35 (1), except that a written record shall, upon request, be disclosed to another law enforcement agency or a district attorney, if the other law enforcement agency or the district attorney is investigating or prosecuting an alleged violation of sub. (2) or to the person to whom the exemption was granted.

941.291(6) (6) Exemption from prohibition for certain prisoners. A person who is prohibited from possessing body armor under sub. (2) may wear body armor if he or she is in the actual custody of a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 165.85 (2) (c), or a correctional officer, as defined in s. 102.475 (8) (a), and is wearing the body armor at the request or direction of the law enforcement officer or correctional officer.

941.291 History History: 2001 a. 95; 2003 a. 321; 2005 a. 212, 277; 2007 a. 97; 2021 a. 76, 209; 2023 a. 10.

941.292 941.292 Possession of a weaponized drone.

941.292(1) (1) In this section, “drone” means a powered, aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, and can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely. A drone may be expendable or recoverable.

941.292(2) (2) Whoever operates any weaponized drone is guilty of a Class H felony. This subsection does not apply to a member of the U.S. armed forces or national guard acting in his or her official capacity.

941.292 History History: 2013 a. 213.

941.295 941.295 Possession of electric weapon.

941.295(1c) (1c) In this section:

941.295(1c)(a) (a) “Electric weapon” means any device which is designed, redesigned, used or intended to be used, offensively or defensively, to immobilize or incapacitate persons by the use of electric current.

941.295(1c)(b) (b) “Licensee” has the meaning given in s. 175.60 (1) (d).

941.295(1c)(c) (c) “Out-of-state licensee” has the meaning given in s. 175.60 (1) (g).

941.295(1m) (1m) Whoever sells, transports, manufactures, possesses or goes armed with any electric weapon is guilty of a Class H felony.

941.295(2) (2) Subsection (1m) does not apply to any of the following:

941.295(2)(a) (a) Any peace officer. 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.

941.295(2)(b) (b) Any armed forces or national guard personnel while on official duty.

941.295(2)(c) (c) Any corrections personnel in a county or in the department of corrections while on official duty.

941.295(2)(d) (d) Any manufacturer or seller of electric weapons, unless the manufacturer or seller engages in the conduct described in sub. (1m) with the intent to provide an electric weapon to someone other than one of the following:

941.295(2)(d)1. 1. A person specified in pars. (a) to (c), a person specified in sub. (2g) (c), a licensee, or an out-of-state licensee.

941.295(2)(d)2. 2. A person for use in his or her dwelling or place of business or on land that he or she owns, leases, or legally occupies.

941.295(2)(e) (e) Any common carrier transporting electric weapons.

941.295(2g) (2g) The prohibition in sub. (1m) on possessing or going armed with an electric weapon does not apply to any of the following:

941.295(2g)(a) (a) A licensee or an out-of-state licensee.

941.295(2g)(b) (b) An individual who goes armed with an electric weapon in his or her own dwelling or place of business or on land that he or she owns, leases, or legally occupies.

941.295(2g)(c) (c) An individual who has a license or permit issued under s. 440.26, who is on official duty, and who may carry a firearm under rules promulgated under s. 440.26 (3m).

941.295(2r) (2r) The prohibition in sub. (1m) on transporting an electric weapon does not apply to any of the following:

941.295(2r)(a) (a) A licensee or an out-of-state licensee.

941.295(2r)(b) (b) An individual who is not a licensee or an out-of-state licensee who transports an electric weapon if the electric weapon is enclosed within a carrying case.

941.295(3) (3) During the first 30 days after May 7, 1982, the electric weapons may be surrendered to any peace officer. Peace officers shall forward electric weapons to the crime laboratories if the retention of those weapons is not necessary for criminal prosecution purposes.

941.295 History History: 1981 c. 348; 1985 a. 29 s. 3200 (35); 1989 a. 31, 56; 2001 a. 109; 2007 a. 27, 128; 2011 a. 35; 2019 a. 87.

941.296 941.296 Use or possession of a handgun and an armor-piercing bullet during crime.

941.296(1) (1) In this section:

941.296(1)(a) (a) “Armor-piercing bullet” means a bullet meeting any of the following criteria: any projectile or projectile core that may be fired from any handgun and that is constructed entirely, excluding the presence of traces of other substances, from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper or depleted uranium.

941.296(1)(b) (b) “Handgun” has the meaning given in s. 175.35 (1) (b).

941.296(2) (2) Whoever uses or possesses a handgun during the commission of a crime under chs. 939 to 948 or 961 is guilty of a Class H felony under any of the following circumstances.

941.296(2)(a) (a) The handgun is loaded with an armor-piercing bullet or a projectile or projectile core that may be fired from the handgun with a muzzle velocity of 1,500 feet per second or greater.

941.296(2)(b) (b) The person possesses an armor-piercing bullet capable of being fired from the handgun.

941.296 History History: 1993 a. 98; 1995 a. 448; 2001 a. 109.

941.2965 941.2965 Restrictions on use of facsimile firearms.

941.2965(1) (1) In this section, “facsimile firearm” means any replica, toy, starter pistol or other object that bears a reasonable resemblance to or that reasonably can be perceived to be an actual firearm. “Facsimile firearm” does not include any actual firearm.

941.2965(2) (2) No person may carry or display a facsimile firearm in a manner that could reasonably be expected to alarm, intimidate, threaten or terrify another person. Whoever violates this section is subject to a Class C forfeiture.

941.2965(3) (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to any of the following:

941.2965(3)(a) (a) Any peace officer acting in the discharge of his or her official duties. Notwithstanding s. 939.22 (22), this paragraph does not apply to a commission warden.

941.2965(3)(b) (b) Any person engaged in military activities, sponsored by the state or federal government, acting in the discharge of his or her official duties.

941.2965(3)(c) (c) Any person who is on his or her own real property, in his or her own home or at his or her own fixed place of business.

941.2965(3)(d) (d) Any person who is on real property and acting with the consent of the owner of that property.

941.2965 History History: 1993 a. 191; 1993 a. 491 s. 262; Stats. 1993 s. 941.2965; 2007 a. 27.

941.297 941.297 Sale or distribution of imitation firearms.

941.297(1) (1) In this section, “look-alike firearm” means any imitation of any original firearm that was manufactured, designed and produced after December 31, 1897, including and limited to toy guns, water guns, replica nonguns, and air-soft guns firing nonmetallic projectiles. “Look-alike firearm” does not include any imitation, nonfiring, collector replica of an antique firearm developed prior to 1898, or any traditional beebee, paint-ball or pellet-firing air gun that expels a projectile through the force of air pressure.

941.297(2) (2) Beginning November 1, 1992, no person may sell or distribute any look-alike firearm. Whoever violates this subsection is subject to a Class A forfeiture.

941.297(3) (3) This section does not apply to the sale or distribution of a look-alike firearm that complies with the marking or waiver requirements under 15 USC 5001 (b).

941.297 History History: 1991 a. 155.

941.298 941.298 Firearm silencers.

941.298(1) (1) In this section, “firearm silencer” means any device for silencing, muffling or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for use in assembling or fabricating such a device, and any part intended only for use in that assembly or fabrication.

941.298(2) (2) Whoever sells, delivers or possesses a firearm silencer is guilty of a Class H felony.

941.298(3) (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to sales or deliveries of firearm silencers to or possession of firearm silencers by any of the following:

941.298(3)(a) (a) Any peace officer who is acting in compliance with the written policies of the officer’s department or agency. This paragraph does not apply to any officer whose department or agency does not have such a policy. Notwithstanding s. 939.22 (22), this paragraph does not apply to a commission warden.

941.298(3)(b) (b) Any armed forces or national guard personnel, while in the line of duty.

941.298(3)(c) (c) Any person who has complied with the licensing and registration requirements under 26 USC 5801 to 5872.

941.298 History History: 1991 a. 39; 2001 a. 109; 2007 a. 27.

941.298 Annotation Silencers are not “arms” for the purposes of the 2nd amendment. The prohibition on possession of a silencer under this section does not impose a burden on conduct falling within the scope of the 2nd amendment’s guarantee and therefore is not unconstitutional. State v. Barrett, 2020 WI App 13, 391 Wis. 2d 283, 941 N.W.2d 866, 18-2324.

941.299 941.299 Restrictions on the use of laser pointers.

941.299(1) (1) In this section:

941.299(1)(a) (a) “Correctional officer” has the meaning given in s. 941.237 (1) (b).

941.299(1)(b) (b) “Laser pointer” means a hand-held device that uses light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation to emit a beam of light that is visible to the human eye.

941.299(1)(c) (c) “Law enforcement officer” means a Wisconsin law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 175.46 (1) (g), or a federal law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 175.40 (7) (a) 1.

941.299(2) (2) No person may do any of the following:

941.299(2)(a) (a) Intentionally direct a beam of light from a laser pointer at any part of the body of a correctional officer, law enforcement officer, or commission warden without the officer’s consent, if the person knows or has reason to know that the victim is a correctional officer, law enforcement officer, or commission warden who is acting in an official capacity.

941.299(2)(b) (b) Intentionally and for no legitimate purpose direct a beam of light from a laser pointer at any part of the body of any human being.

941.299(2)(c) (c) Intentionally direct a beam of light from a laser pointer in a manner that could reasonably be expected to alarm, intimidate, threaten or terrify another person.

941.299(2)(d) (d) Intentionally direct a beam of light from a laser pointer in a manner that, under the circumstances, tends to disrupt any public or private event or create or provoke a disturbance.

941.299(3) (3) 

941.299(3)(a) (a) Whoever violates sub. (2) (a) is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

941.299(3)(b) (b) Whoever violates sub. (2) (b), (c) or (d) is subject to a Class B forfeiture.