Introduction
Nearly 1.5 million Wisconsin residents experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Fortunately, many victims survive these traumatic events; however, Wisconsin reported 455 domestic violence related homicides from 2010 to 2019. In 2019, 57% of the 53 domestic homicide victims in Wisconsin were killed with a firearm. An abuser’s access to firearms can determine a victim’s chances of survival; domestic violence firearm prohibitions and removal laws save lives.
Wisconsin does not prohibit purchase or possession of firearms or ammunition by persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. Wisconsin prohibits possession of firearms by persons subject to domestic abuse injunctions, child abuse injunctions, or certain tribal injunctions. Wisconsin requires removal of firearms from persons subject to domestic abuse injunctions.
