[align=left]Wisconsin
(Not a legal gun case, unless guns are first placed in gun sleeves) [/align]
[align=left]We received the following e-mail on June 15, 2006 from a Conservation Warden & Natural Resources Policy Officer at the Bureau of Law Enforcement for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
"In Wisconsin, it is illegal to place a firearm into a vehicle before it is completely cased and unloaded, and it is also illegal to remove a firearm from its case while the firearm/case is still inside of or on the vehicle.[/align]
[align=left]In Wisconsin, there are several issues that must be considered regarding the use of a built in storage box to carry or transport firearms. The most serious potential penalty could be that of "Carrying a concealed weapon". Generally, if a firearm is legally unloaded and cased in a recognizable gun case, it would not be considered concealed. It is however illegal to place any firearm inside of or on a vehicle before it is first unloaded and completely enclosed within a case expressly made for the purpose of containing a firearm and that is completely zipped, snapped, buckled, tied or otherwise fastened with no part of the firearm exposed. If a firearm is to be placed into a built in case or storage area located inside or on a vehicle, the firearm would first need to be unloaded and placed into a firearm case outside the vehicle, before it is placed into a special storage area inside of or on the vehicle.[/align]
[align=left]Firearms placed in the storage units pictured on your web site would be in violation of Wisconsin law unless they were first unloaded and placed inside of a separate firearm case outside the vehicle and then the cased firearm placed into these types of storage units.[/align]
[align=left]Section 941.23, Wis. Stats. Carrying concealed weapon.
Any person except a peace officer who goes armed with a concealed and dangerous weapon is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.[/align]
[align=left]To "go armed" does not require going anywhere. The elements for a violation of s. 941.23 are: 1) a dangerous weapon is on the defendant's person or within reach; 2) the defendant is aware of the weapon's presence; and 3) the weapon is hidden. State v. Keith, 175 Wis. 2d 75, 498 N.W.2d 865 (Ct. App. 1993). A defendant was properly convicted under this section for driving a vehicle with a gun locked in a glove compartment. State v. Fry, 131 Wis. 2d 153, 388 N.W.2d 565 (1986).[/align]
[align=left]Section 167.31, Wis. Stats. Safe use and transportation of firearms and bows.
Prohibitions; vehicles
No person may place, possess or transport a firearm, bow or crossbow in or on a vehicle, unless the firearm is unloaded and encased or unless the bow or crossbow is unstrung or is enclosed in a carrying case.[/align]
[align=left]"Encased" means enclosed in a case that is expressly made for the purpose of containing a firearm and that is completely zipped, snapped, buckled, tied or otherwise fastened with no part of the firearm exposed.[/align]
[align=left]"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."
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[align=left]The following description was found online...
Transporting Firearms in Motor Vehicles, Boats, or Aircraft.
In general, no one may place, possess, or transport a firearm in a motor vehicle, motorboat, or aircraft unless the firearm is unloaded and in a carrying case. Loading or discharging a firearm in or from a vehicle is also prohibited [ss. 167.31 (2) (a) and (b), and (3) (a)].[/align]
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