Secure Storage in Wisconsin
Gun owners in Wisconsin must store guns securely to prevent unauthorized access by children and teens.
Gun owners in Wisconsin may be subject to criminal penalties if a child under age 14 gains access to an improperly stored loaded firearm and displays it in public or handles it negligently in the following circumstances:
- They failed to store the firearm in a securely locked box or container or in a location that a reasonable person would believe to be secure,
- They failed to securely lock the firearm with a trigger lock, or
- They failed to render the firearm inoperable.
More serious criminal penalties are possible if a child gains access to the firearm and discharges it, causing death or bodily harm. Exceptions may apply if the gun owner reasonably believes that a child is not likely to be present where the firearm is stored or if the firearm is being carried or close enough to be retrieved as easily and quickly as if being carried.
To avoid potential criminal liability under state law, gun owners should store loaded firearms in a securely locked box or container, in a secure location, secured with a trigger lock, or rendered temporarily inoperable to prevent children from gaining unauthorized access to them.
Keeping Your Homes and Vehicles Safe with Secure Storage
If you’ve made the decision to bring a gun into your home, it’s important to know how responsible gun owners work to keep their families safe by mitigating the inherent risks associated with firearm ownership. Every responsible gun owner securely stores their guns so that they are inaccessible to children and other people who are at risk of harming themselves or others. Here’s why:
- More than 700 children die by gun suicide each year, most often using guns belonging to a family member.
- Nearly 360 children under the age of 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else each year.
- At least one-third of youth gun suicides and unintentional deaths could be prevented with increased secure storage.
- More than 200,000 guns are stolen from individuals every year—a significant portion of those are stolen from cars.
Safety is always an adult responsibility. Kids will be kids, so it’s always an adult’s responsibility to keep children safe. Always assume that curious or impulsive kids may find and touch an unsecured gun, even if they’ve been told not to. If a child handles a gun, a bad decision can quickly become a fatal one. Be SMART adults protect kids by making sure all guns are stored securely, which means they are inaccessible to kids, and by making sure children are never in the presence of unsecured guns.
The information provided here is not legal advice and should not be understood as such. Consult with an attorney if you have questions about how this law applies to your specific circumstances.