Conceal Carry Law Information for Businesses

Wisconsin Concealed Carry Law:  As it relates to businesses

This information was retrieved from the Wisconsin Department of Justice website.  For additional information regarding the law, visit online.

To download a sign for your business that complies with the law, click here.

RESTRICTIONS BY EMPLOYERS

Can an employer prohibit employees from carrying concealed weapons on the job?

Yes. An employer may prohibit an employee from carrying a concealed weapon or a particular type of concealed weapon in the course of the employee’s employment or during any part of the course of the employee’s employment. Wis. Stat. § 175.60(15m)(a).

Does that prohibition apply to my car or the employer’s parking lot?

No. An employer may not prohibit a person with a CCW license, as a condition of employment, from carrying a concealed weapon, a particular type of concealed weapon, or ammunition or from storing a weapon, a particular type of weapon, or ammunition in the licensee’s own motor vehicle, regardless of whether the motor vehicle is used in the CCW FAQ 08/02/11 - 32 - course of employment or whether the motor vehicle is driven or parked on property used by the employer. Wis. Stat. § 175.60(15m)(b).

If an employer allows the carrying of concealed weapons and someone is injured or killed as a result of a license holder using the weapon, is the employer legally liable?

Generally no. However, there may be circumstances where such liability may exist and a discussion of such situations is beyond the scope of this brief legal summary.

The law provides:

• A person who does not prohibit an individual from carrying a concealed weapon on property that the person owns or occupies is immune from any liability arising from his or her decision. Wis. Stat. § 175.60(21)(b).
• An employer who does not prohibit one or more employees from carrying a concealed weapon is immune from any liability arising from that decision. Wis. Stat. § 175.60(21)(c).
• A person providing a firearms training course in good faith is immune from liability from any act or omission related to the course if the course is one of the courses listed in statute. Wis. Stat. § 175.60(21)(d).

RESTRICTIONS BY BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS

Can a business or property owner limit or prohibit the carrying of concealed weapons on its premises?

Yes. The law permits certain owners and occupants of property to prohibit persons from carrying a concealed firearm in or on the property. A person may be subject to a Class B forfeiture (bold) if he or she carries a firearm on the property after being notified not to remain on the property or remain with a specific type of firearm. In the latter case, a property owner can prohibit a person form possessing a specific type of firearm on their property or any firearm. Wis. Stat. § 943.13(1m)(b).

In addition, property owners generally possess the right to exclude others from their property. While the specific provisions below only reference prohibiting the possession of firearms, property owners may also prohibit or restrict the possession of other weapons on their property. Violations of such restrictions may also constitute a Class B forfeiture under Wis. Stat. § 943.13(1m)(b).