wrightme
Regular Member
IT IS NOT BY LAW ILLEGAL TO OPEN CARRY A FIREARM IN YOUR VEHICLE.
Handguns vs Long Guns in Vehicles[edit]
Beginning November 1, 2011, it is legal to load a handgun, or to transport a loaded handgun cased or uncased, in a vehicle without a license. NOTE: This does NOT apply to long guns; they still must be unloaded, but now may be uncased. There is still some confusion as to whether or not an encased gun is concealed, so if it is cased, best practice is to keep the long gun out of reach. Long guns must be "discernable to ordinary observation", since a conceal carry license does not apply. Previously all firearms had to be unloaded & encased (per the transport statute), & out of reach (derived from the concealed carry statute). Those with a concealed carry license may conceal a pistol in a vehicle.
WI statute 167.31[16]
Actually, you really need to cite your source for the quote you presented. And, I would caution you to NOT use wikipedia as a direct source, but use it to find links to actual sources. In this case, had you taken the time to follow the link to the source cited at the wikipedia page, you would have been led directly to the actual WI statute referenced. At that point, you should easily have found out that it is 'by law,' illegal to carry a firearm in your vehicle. The statute then lists exceptions.
167.31 Safe use and transportation of firearms and bows.
(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) "Aircraft" has the meaning given under s. 114.002 (3).
(b) "Encased" means enclosed in a case that is completely zipped, snapped, buckled, tied or otherwise fastened with no part of the firearm exposed.
(bg) "Family member of the landowner" means a person who is related to the landowner as a parent, child, spouse, or sibling.
(bn) "Farm tractor" has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (16).
(c) "Firearm" means a weapon that acts by force of gunpowder.
(cm) "Handgun" has the meaning given in s. 175.60 (1) (bm).
(d) "Highway" has the meaning given under s. 340.01 (22).
(dm) "Implement of husbandry" has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (24).
(e) "Motorboat" has the meaning given under s. 30.50 (6).
(em) "Peace officer" has the meaning given in s. 939.22 (22).
(et) "Private security person" has the meaning given in s. 440.26 (1m) (h).
(f) "Roadway" has the meaning given under s. 340.01 (54).
(fg) "Stationary" means not moving, regardless of whether the motor is running.
(fm) "Street" means a highway that is within the corporate limits of a city or village.
(fr) "Transmission facility" means any pipe, pipeline, duct, wire, cable, line, conduit, pole, tower, equipment, or other structure used to transmit or distribute electricity to or for the public or to transmit or distribute communications or data to or from the public.
(g) "Unloaded" means any of the following:
1. Having no shell or cartridge in the chamber of a firearm or in the magazine attached to a firearm.
2. In the case of a cap lock muzzle-loading firearm, having the cap removed.
3. In the case of a flint lock muzzle-loading firearm, having the flashpan cleaned of powder.
4. In the case of an electronic ignition muzzle-loading firearm, having the battery removed and disconnected from the firearm.
(h) "Vehicle" has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (74), but includes a snowmobile, as defined in s. 340.01 (58a), an all-terrain vehicle, as defined in s. 340.01 (2g), and an electric personal assistive mobility device, as defined in s. 340.01 (15pm), except that for purposes of subs. (4) (c) and (cg) and (4m) "vehicle" has the meaning given for "motor vehicle" in s. 29.001 (57).
(2) Prohibitions; motorboats and vehicles; highways and roadways.
(a) Except as provided in sub. (4), no person may place, possess, or transport a firearm, bow, or crossbow in or on a motorboat with the motor running, unless one of the following applies:
1. The firearm is unloaded or is a handgun.
2. The bow does not have an arrow nocked.
3. The crossbow is not cocked or is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case.
The first exception is 'The firearm is unloaded or is a handgun.'
That is an exception to the statute making it illegal.
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