Silencer/Suppressor in Wisconsin?

[Birdmang]

Can you get one in Wisconsin?

Can I purchase one as an IL resident that has a house in WI and keep it there?


Thanks.

 

[Ranb]

If you actually have a residence in WI, you can use it on the ATF form 4 when applying for the tax stamp. The address on the application does not have to be your residence for tax purposes. WI is one of the 37 states that allow unlicensed persons to own silencers.

Ranb

 

[Birdmang]

So I just put my lake house address on this for four then I get the stamp? Or do I have to be approved?

 

[Karl Hungus]

I'm in WI and currently going through the process.

Go to the WI dealer, get paperwork.

Go to County PD, get fingerprinted, set up an appointment when the Sheriff can come to your house to check out your immovable, unpryable gun safe. Have Sheriff sign form fours.

Go back to dealer, pay for the suppressor, enclose check for $200 and mail form fours and fingerprint cards to ATF.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.





Wait.

Get approved, pick up suppressor from dealer, put in unmoveable, unpryable gunsafe when not shooting.



I don't know about the whole IL resident with a home in WI thing, but that may very well be an issue.

Not only are suppressors legal to own in WI (if you jump thru the proper hoops), but you can also hunt with them.

 

[Ranb]

Go to County PD, get fingerprinted, set up an appointment when the Sheriff can come to your house to check out your immovable, unpryable gun safe. Have Sheriff sign form fours.

What? The WI sheriff's inspects your house before signing? Never heard of that before.

Birdmang, the usual procedure when buying a silencer on an ATF form 4 is to buy the silencer and the dealer gives you the forms (ATF form 4, form 5330.20). Bring the ATF form 4 to your local sheriff in the WI county where your residence is. After it is signed, send it in along with two passport sized photos of yourself, two fingerprint cards and a check for $200. When it is approved it will be sent back to the dealer with a canceled tax stamp on it, then you bring the silencer home from the dealer.

You can use a trust to own the silencer for you also. This means you do not need the sheriff's signture or the fingerprint cards. I used Quicken Willmaker to create a trust, other people use a lawyer.

Ranb

 

[Karl Hungus]

What? The WI sheriff's inspects your house before signing? Never heard of that before.

Well, he inspects your safe. So yeah - he comes to your home to see that you have a proper safe.

It's dumb and it's weird, but it's The Law.

Pretty funny how in France you can buy a suppressor at the local sporting goods store, yet here in the Land of the Free you've gotta keep it locked up like it's a WMD.

 

[Ranb]

Karl, what is the law that requires this inspection? Does using a trust allow a person to get around it? Thanks.

Ranb

 

[GoingQuiet]

I just sent an Osprey to Green Bay. Sounds legal.

 

[RhinoDefense]

Yes suppressors are legal in Wisconsin. I've never heard of the safe inspection requirement.

 

[Karl Hungus]

Karl, what is the law that requires this inspection? Does using a trust allow a person to get around it? Thanks.

I don't think there is actually a law that requires an inspection. I think it depends upon the local PD. The sheriff has to sign off on your Form 4 and I've heard stories about sheriffs not signing even if you have a clean record but are known to be a rabble-rouser. I'm fine with a cop coming over to my place and I really didn't want to mess with setting up a trust. I'm pretty sure setting up a trust takes the local PD out of the picture.

 

[Birdmang]

Any idea on the "lives out of state, owns a house in WI" aspect of this?

 

[Ranb]

If you actually live in the state, then you are a resident of it, sometimes. See below.

TITLE 27 CFR CHAPTER II
PART 478—COMMERCE IN FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION
Subpart B – Definitions
§ 478.11 Meaning of terms.

State of residence. The State in which an individual resides. An individual resides in a State if he or she is present in a State with the intention of making a home in that State. If an individual is on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces, the individual's State of residence is the State in which his or her permanent duty station is located. An alien who is legally in the United States shall be considered to be a resident of a State only if the alien is residing in the State and has resided in the State for a period of at least 90 days priorto the date of sale or delivery of a firearm. The following are examples that illustrate this definition:

Example 1. A maintains a home in
State X. A travels to State Y on a hunting,
fishing, business, or other type of trip. A
does not become a resident of State Y by
reason of such trip.

Example 2. A is a U.S. citizen and
maintains a home in State X and a home
in State Y. A resides in State X except for
weekends or the summer months of the
year and in State Y for the weekends or
the summer months of the year. During
the time that A actually resides in State X,
A is a resident of State X, and during the
time that A actually resides in State Y, A is
a resident of State Y.

Example 3. A, an alien, travels on vacation
or on a business trip to State X.
Regardless of the length of time A spends
in State X, A does not have a State of
residence in State X. This is because A
does not have a home in State X at which
he has resided for at least 90 days.

Ranb