Wisconsin
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Wisconsin
This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Wisconsin. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the territorial period through statehood to the present.
- Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and select municipal ordinances.
- Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, frontier, fur trade, logging, Great Lakes maritime, railroad, and manufacturing records, and oral histories tied to Wisconsin people and places.
- Research outputs: technical reports, academic studies, training manuals, and curated datasets relevant to the state.
Cite the Firearms Research Center and the item’s handle/DOI when using materials. Rights and licensing vary by item.
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Item type:Item, Wis. Stat. Ann. 2379, § 4384 (1889)(1848)If any person shall go armed with a dirk, dagger, sword, pistol or pistols, or other offensive and dangerous weapon, without reasonable cause to fear an assault or other injury or violence to his person, or to his family or property, he may, on complaint of any other person having reasonable cause to fear an injury or breach of the peace, be required to find sureties for keeping the peace for a term not exceeding six months, with the right of appealing as before provided.Item type:Item, 1839 Wis. Terr. Stat. 381(1838)If any person shall go armed with a dirk, dagger, sword, pistol or pistols, or other offensive and dangerous weapon, without reasonable cause to fear an assault or other injury, or violence to his person, or to his family, or property, he may, on complaint of any other person having reasonable cause to fear an injury or breach of the peace, be required to find sureties for keeping the peace for a term not exceeding six months, with the right of appealing as before provided.Item type:Item, 1883 Wis. Sess. Laws 315(1883)The powers conferred upon the said council to provide for the abatement or removal of nuisances, shall not bar or hinder suits, prosecutions or proceedings in the courts according of law. Depots, houses or buildings of any kind, wherein more than twenty-five pounds of gun powder are deposited, stored or kept at any one time . . . within the limits of said city are hereby declared and shall be deemed public or common nuisances.Item type:Item, 1885 Wis. Sess. Laws 1109(1885)Authorized the city to regulate and prohibit the carrying concealed of any pistol, revolver, sling shot, cross knuckles, knuckles of lead, brass, or other metal, Bowie knife, dirk knife, dirk, dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.Item type:Item, Statutes of the Territory of Wisconsin: Passed by the Legislative Assembly thereof, a Session commencing in November 1838, and at an adjourned Session commencing in January, 1839, at 381 § 16(1838)"If any person shall go armed with a dirk, dagger, sword, pistol or pistols, or other offensive and dangerous weapon, without reasonable cause to fear an assault or other injury, or violence to his person, or to his family, or property, he may, on complaint of any other person having reasonable cause to fear an injury or breach of the peace, be required to find sureties for keeping the peace for a term not exceeding six months, with the right of appealing as before provided."Item type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of Superior 390 (1896)(1896)Section 18 prohibited carrying pistols, slingshots, knuckles, bowie knives, daggers, or other dangerous weapons within Superior, except by authorized officers, punishable by a $10–$100 fine. Section 19 prohibited discharging firearms or fireworks without mayoral permission, punishable by a $1–$50 fine, with exceptions for lawful defense, law enforcement, and gun-club shotgun practice.Item type:Item, 1887 Wis. Sess. Laws 336(1887)Authorized the city to regulate and prohibit the concealed carry of any pistol, sling shot, knuckles of lead, brass, or other metal,, bowie knife, dirk, dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.Item type:Item, 1883 Wis. Sess. Laws 1034(1883)Authorized the city to prohibit and prevent the concealed carry of any pistol, sling-shot, knuckles, Bowie knife, dirk knife, dirk, or dagger, or other dangerous or deadly weapon.Item type:Item, 1885 Wis. Sess. Laws 753(1885)Authorized the city to regulate and prohibit the carrying concealed of any pistol, sling shot, knuckles, Bowie knife, dirk knife, dirk, dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.Item type:Item, 1891 Wis. Sess. Laws 186(1891)Authorized the city to regulate or prohibit the concealed carry of any pistol, revolver, sling shot, cross knuckles, knuckles made of lead, brass, or other metal, or Bowie knife, dirk knife, dirk, or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapons.Item type:Item, 1883 Wis. Sess. Laws 990(1883)Authorized the city to prohibit and prevent the carry of any pistol, Bowie-knife, dirk, dagger, or other concealed and dangerous weapon, except as authorized by law.Item type:Item, 1876 Wis. Sess. Laws 218(1876)Allowed the city to regulate the concealed carry "of any pistol or colt, or slung shot, or cross knuckles, or knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, or bowie knife, dirk knife, or dirk or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon."Item type:Item, 1891 Wis. Sess. Laws 61(1891)Authorized the city to prohibit or regulate the carrying of any pistol, slung shot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk, or any other dangerous weapon and to confiscate and sell such weapons.Item type:Item, 1883 Wis. Sess. Laws 713(1883)Prohibited the carrying of a concealed pistol or colt, or slungshot, or cross knuckles or knuckles of lead, brass or other metal or Bowie knife, dirk knife, or dirk or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon. Punishable by confiscation of the weapon.Item type:Item, 1883 Wis. Sess. Laws 841(1883)Any person who shall be found in or upon any street, alley or public ground within said city, or within any saloon, shop, store, grocery, hall, church, school house, barn, building or other place within said city . . . shall use toward or in the presence of another, violent or insulting language or be guilty of any breach of the peace, or firing of any gun or pistol, or fighting or threatening to fight, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by fine not exceeding twenty-five ($25) dollars and costs of prosecution, or imprisonment in the county jail not more than ninety days, or both, in the discretion of the court.Item type:Item, 1877 Wis. Sess. Laws 367(1877)Allowed the city to regulate the concealed carry "of any pistol or colt, or slung shot, or cross knuckles, or knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, or bowie knife, dirk knife, or dirk or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon."Item type:Item, 1876 Wis. Sess. Laws 737(1876)Allowed the city to regulate the concealed carry "of any pistol or colt, or slung shot, or cross knuckles, or knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, or bowie knife, dirk knife, or dirk or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon."Item type:Item, The General Ordinances of the City of Milwaukee 692–93 (Charles H. Hamilton, ed., 1896)(1896)It shall be unlawful for any person except policemen, regular or special, or any officer authorized to serve process, to carry or wear concealed about his person, any pistol or colt, slung-shot, cross-knuckles, knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, or bowie -knife, dirk knife, or dirk or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon, within the limits of the city of MilwaukeeItem type:Item, 1874 Wis. Sess. Laws 334(1874)Allowed the city to regulate the concealed carry "of any pistol or colt, or slung shot, or cross knuckles, or knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, or bowie knife, dirk knife, or dirk or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon."Item type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of Milwaukee 126 (1852)(1852)No person shall fire or set off any squib, cracker, or gun-powder, or fire-work, or build any bonfire within one hundred feet of any building in this city, under the penalty of five dollars for each and every offence; and the Mayor, Marshal or any Aldermen or Fire Warden may restrain or prohibit any fire work or bonfire in any part of the city, whenever, in their opinion there shall be danger therefrom.Item type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of La Crosse 177 (1888)(1888)It shall be unlawful for any person to use firearms or to shoot off a gun or pistol or to hunt game or birds within the limits of any cemetery in the city of La Crosse; or to rob or disturb birds' nests therein, or to enter any cemetery except by the gate, and then only at such times as the same may be open to the public; or to enter the same as a thoroughfare in going from one place to another. Any person violating any provisions of this section, shall upon conviction, be fined in a sum not more than ten dollars, and in case of a second conviction shall be imprisoned not more than sixty days nor less than ten days.Item type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of La Crosse, with the Rules of the Common Council, at 202, Ordinance no. 27 (1888)(1881)No person shall fire or discharge any cannon, gun, fowling piece, pistol or firearms of any description, or fire, explode or set off any squib, cracker or other thing containing powder or other combustible or explosive material, or set off or exhibit any fireworks within the limits of the city of La CrosseItem type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of La Crosse 239–42 (1888)(1881)It shall be unlawful for any person to keep for sale, sell or give away any gunpowder, giant powder, nitro-glycerine, gun-cotton, dynamite or any other explosive substance of like nature or use without having first obtained a license therefor from the city of La Crosse in the manner hereinafter provided. Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of twenty-five dollars for each offense.Item type:Item, 1887 Wis. Sess. Laws 754(1887)Authorized the city to regulate and prohibit the concealed carry of any pistol, slung shot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.Item type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of La Crosse 25–26 (1888)(1881)The common council has power. . . Pt. 36. To regulate or prohibit the carrying or wearing by any person, any pistol, slung-shot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk or any other dangerous weapon, and to provide for the confiscation and sale of such weapons.Item type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of La Crosse 176 (1888)(1881)It shall be unlawful for any person other than a policeman or other officer authorized to maintain the peace and to serve process to carry or wear any pistol, slungshot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk or any other dangerous weapon, and any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars. In all cases of conviction hereunder, any and all dangerous weapons found on the person accused shall be confiscated and become the property of the City of La Crosse.Item type:Item, 1885 Wis. Sess. Laws 126(1885)Authorized the city to regulate and prohibit the carrying concealed of any pistol, sling shot, knuckles, Bowie knife, dirk, dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.Item type:Item, 1882 Wis. Sess. Laws 309(1882)Allowed the city to regulate the concealed carry of any pistol, sling shot, knuckles, or bowie knife, dirk knife, or dirk or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.Item type:Item, Ordinances of the City of Kenosha, Ordinance no. 8, §1 & §5 (1858)(1858)That no person shall fire or discharge any cannon, rifle, gun, pistol, or fire arms of any description, or fire, explode, or set off any squib, cracker, or other thing containing powder or other combustible or explosive material in any street, alley, or public ground within this city south of a line running through Lemon street from the lake to the west line of the corporation, and east of West Main Street. § 5 No person shall be allowed to keep any gunpowder in any occupied building within the limits of this city without permission of the council;— and no person shall keep in any such building a greater quantity than ten pounds; which shall be kept in a close tin canister or canisters.Item type:Item, 1891 Wis. Sess. Laws 699(1891)Authorized the city to regulate and prohibit the concealed carry of any pistol, revolver, slung shot, or cross-knuckles, knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, Bowie-knife, dirk-knife, dirk, dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.Item type:Item, Charter and General Ordinances of Madison 292–93 (1917)(1917)Every person, firm, association or corporation engaged in the business of selling firearms at retail in the city of Madison, shall at the close of business on each day during which any such person, firm, association or corporation shall sell any firearms, make a report to the chief of police, giving a brief description of each firearm sold and the name and address of the purchaser. It shall be unlawful for any person, except policemen or any officer authorized to serve process, to carry or wear concealed about his person, any pistol or revolver, slung shot, cross-knuckles, knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, or bowie knife, dirk knife, or dirk or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon, within the limits of the city of Madison. No person shall fire or discharge any cannon, or fire arm of any description, or any air gun, or fire, explode, or set off any squib, cracker or other thing containing powder. No person shall sell or place on sale, or give away or fire or explode any toy, cap or cartridge pistol or any fire cracker exceeding § inch in diameter and 2 inches in length; nor any so-called "dago bomb" or any similar bomb unless used for exhibition purposes and then only by an experienced agent."Item type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of La Crosse 202 (1888)(1881)Prohibited discharge of any cannon, gun, fowling piece, pistol, firearms, squibs, cracker, any of other thing containing powder or explosive material, or set off any fireworks. Violators fined not less than one but no more than twenty-five dollars.Item type:Item, The Municipal Code of Berlin §§ 258–61 (1890)(1890)Any person who shall fire or discharge any gun, pistol, fowling piece, or other fire arm, within the limits of the City of Berlin except in the necessary defense of his person or property, shall pay a fine of not less than one dollar, nor more than ten dollars for each offense. Any person who shall sell, loan or furnish to any minor, any gun, pistol, fowling piece or other firearm within this City, shall pay a fine of not less than five dollars, nor more than twenty-five dol ars[sic] for each such offense.Item type:Item, 1878 Wis. Sess. Laws 119–20(1878)Allowed the city to regulate the concealed carry "of any pistol or colt, or slung shot, or cross knuckles, or knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, or bowie knife, dirk knife, or dirk or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon."Item type:Item, 1887 Wis. Sess. Laws 684(1887)Authorized the city to regulate and prohibit the concealed carry of any pistol, sling shot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk, dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.Item type:Item, 1883 Wis. Sess. Laws 370(1883)To prohibit, restrain or regulate the discharge of fire-arms and the explosion of gunpowder and guncotton, and the firing of firecrackers and fireworks of any kind within the city.Item type:Item, 1883 Wis. Sess. Laws 369-70(1883)To prevent and prohibit the manufacture, keeping or storing of nitro-glycerine, and to regulate the keeping and storing of gunpowder, gun cotton, burning fluids, coal oils and other dangerous explosive materials, in said city, and to provide for the inspection of illuminating oils and fluids.Item type:Item, The Municipal Code of Berlin §§ 483–86 (1890)(1890)It shall be unlawful for any person, within the limits of the City of Berlin, to carry or wear under his clothes, or concealed about his person, any pistol, colt or slung shot, cross knuckles, or knuckles of lead, brass or other metal or bowie knife, dirk knife or dirk, razor or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.Item type:Item, 1872 Wis. Sess. Laws 17(1872)Prohibited the concealed carry of a dirk, dagger, sword, pistol, revolver, slung-shot, brass knuckles, or other offensive and dangerous weapon. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in state prison not more than two years, or one year in the county jail, or find not exceeding five hundred dollars with costs of prosecution. Sureties of the peace may be required up to two years post-conviction.Item type:Item, 1887 Wis. Sess. Laws 1308(1887)Authorized the city to regulate and prohibit the concealed carry of any pistol, sling shot, knuckles of lead, brass, or other metal,, bowie knife, dirk, dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.