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While Wisconsin has enacted several basic gun safety laws, the state still lacks a number of key policies that would go a long way toward reducing  gun violence.

The state processes background checks through state databases for handguns but doesn’t require background checks for private sales. In 2020, Wisconsin had the 15th-lowest gun death rate in the country and exported crime guns to other states at the 16th-highest rate. To save lives from gun violence, Wisconsin legislators could fund community violence programs and require background checks for all gun sales.

What Wisconsin Does Well

  • Certain domestic violence gun laws
  • Certain child access prevention laws
  • State database background checks for handguns
  • Certain disarming procedures
  • Partial handgun dealer regulation

What Wisconsin Is Missing

  • Universal background checks
  • Gun owner licensing
  • Extreme risk protection orders
  • Assault weapon restrictions
  • Large capacity magazine ban
  • Waiting periods
  • Strong concealed carry law
  • Open carry regulations
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SPOTLIGHT

GUN LAW SCORECARD

The data is clear: states with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.

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