WI handgun OWNERSHIP laws?

A

abrahamsmith

New member
So here's the deal: Here in Wisconsin, you can't buy a handgun from an FFL until you are 21. BUT, at 18 you can legally "possess" handguns for hunting or sporting purposes (WI in unenlightened in terms of CCW.. no way whatsoever).

Just wondering if any of you have anything like an answer to my question. I emailed it to the WI Attourney General's office, but no reply in about a week. I've looked on various websites (ATF state laws page, NRA, WI DNR, etc...), but to no avail.

Here's the question: At 19, can I legally OWN a handgun in WI? Obviously, I cannot BUY one, but I can POSSESS one. So, can someone legally give me a handgun as a gift?

Since we don't register guns (yet.. knock on wood), ownership is solely a mental association of a person with an object. So, is there a legal difference between a family member giving me a handgun to keep as my own, and a family giving me a handgun as an indefinite loan?

Another point I'm not sure about is if a private sale is legal to someone under 21. But, of course, if this is okay, there is no problem with the above circumstance...
 
I'm almost positive that it is legal for you to own a handgun as long as someone else buys it. So yes, a gift is legal.

Andy
 
go to www.packing.org or call your local LEO

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"We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force."

--Ayn Rand, in "The Nature of Government"

http://hometown.aol.com//jsax13/web.html
Member NRA, GOA, JPFO, SAF, and CCRKBA.
 
If you did get one as a gift, I would keep it on the hush hush for a couple years just to be on the safe side.
 
What is the "age of majority"; i.e. the age at which Wisconsin decrees that you are an adult? There is a case for consideration. Politicians sponsor "new" laws, so pose your query to them. Why is the law inconsistant with itself, Congressperson? Senator? Governor? Attorney General?
 
18 is NOT considered an "adult" in the U.S. Never was. Always been 21.

The ONLY REASON the voting age was lowered to 18 was because that was the age at which men went into military service. During Vietnam, it wasn't considered "right" that a man could die for his country, but not have the right to vote on the policies and representatives.

In NO state is a person considered an "adult" until age 21 IIRC. Probably will never change....
 
I fianlly got a response from WI Attorney General James Doyle's office:

Dear Abraham:

Thank you for writing to Attorney General Jim Doyle with your
questions about gun ownership. The Attorney General welcomes the
opportunity to respond to your inquiry.

The short answer to your question is yes -- a 19-year-old can
legally recieve a firearm as a gift. A person under age 21 cannot purchase a
firearm from an FFL dealer, and that is based on federal law, not the law of
the State of Wisconsin. Federal law, however, does not address simple
possession or ownership not implicating a sale by an FFL dealer. In
Wisconsin, state law prohibits persons under the age of 18 from possessing
any dangerous weapon including a firearm, and does not distinguish between
handguns and long guns in this regard.

Again, thank you for writing to Attorney General Doyle.

Sincerely,
Richard West
Policy Analyst

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Abe Smith,
President of UW-Madison's
Student Alliance for Firearm Education and Responsibility
 
From US Code, Title 18, Chapter 44, Section 922: Unlawful acts

"(b) It shall be unlawful for any licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to sell or deliver -
* (1) any firearm or ammunition to any individual who the
licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than
eighteen years of age, and, if the firearm, or ammunition is
other than a shotgun or rifle, or ammunition for a shotgun or
rifle, to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable
cause to believe is less than twenty-one years of age;

Unless the federal code has changed in the last year or two, this is federal law.

BTW, watch out for Doyle. He's an anti of the worst sort. He also is looking to run for governor in 2002. If you have any spare $$, start helping Lt. Governor Scott McCollum, who is now the presumptive nominee. Under Governor Thompson we got the range protection act, the preemption legislation, the RKBA amendment, and a host of other pro-2nd measures (not to mention a repeal of the state's motorcycle helmet law). All that could change with an SOB like Doyle.

Dick
Want to send a message to Bush? Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/monk/petition.html and forward the link to every gun owner you know.
 
Right, so I can buy a handgun from non-FFL or have it given to me by someone, BUT I just can't buy ammo yet....

oh well, it's a start.




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Abe Smith,
President of UW-Madison's
Student Alliance for Firearm Education and Responsibility
 
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