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Wisconsin Sees Surge in Gun Ownership

State's new conceal carry law and Sandy Hook school shooting prompts increase in calls to background check hotline, newspaper reports.

 

When Wisconsin's conceal carry law took effect in November 2011, gun sales in the state jumped. And the trend continued throughout 2012, according to reporting by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

A Dec. 27 story reported the background check hotline for handgun purchases has handled 60 percent more calls in 2012 over 2011. At that time, the newspaper reported, "the hotline handled 132,940 calls. For all of 2011, it received 88,895 calls."

Part of that number, the Journal Sentinel reported, was a spike in interest in buying guns after the Sandy Hook school shooting, when more than 2,000 additional calls went to the hotline in the week after the shooting compared to the week before.

In November, the JS reported on the steady boost in gun sales on the one-year anniversary of when concealed carry became legal in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice told Patch that there have been 164,788 concealed carry applications submitted, and 149,055 licenses approved since the law took effect.

Walmart stores in some states reporting they sold out of semi-automatic rifles in the days after the Sandy Hook shooting. But that shooting also prompted some retailers to take certain gun models off the shelves.

Interested in buying a gun?

There are stores, like The Shooters Shop (http://www.shootersshop.com) and Shorty's Shooting Sports (http://shortysshootingsports.com) in West Allis, and Waukesha's Fletcher Arms (http://www.fletcherarms.com), that specialize in firearms. Guns may also be purchased at Gander Mountain, Walmart and Dick's Sporting Goods stores.

Private sales of firearms are legal in Wisconsin, and this could be at a gun show http://gunshowtrader.com/gunshows/wisconsin or through a classified ad, like you can find at armslist.com.

Highlights of Wisconsin firearms laws

  • As of Nov. 1, 2011, Wisconsin residents became eligible to apply for a license to carry a concealed weapon.
  • Weapons are prohibited in courthouses, police stations, prisons and jails, mental health treatment facilities, airports and schools, as well as on properties where owners have posted signs prohibiting firearms.
  • Training is required, like the Department of Natural Resources Hunter Safety program, firearms safety or training course, or through military, law enforcement or security employment training.
  • There is a 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases.
Related Topics: Conceal Carry, Gun Laws, Sandy Hook shooting, Wisconsin Conceal Carry Law, and concealed weapons

Steve ®

11:02 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

I was at gun world yesterday, they are out of everything. Guy said they are selling about 10 million per week through all the stores. Just our store did 250k the day after sandy hook. They sold out of 30 gallon drums of .223 ammo, it holds 12,000 rounds and costs $5500.

Gun control, LOL good luck. Even the .50 cals are flying off the shelf.

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jbw

11:32 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

Hmm, I guess people have clearly voted with their dollars. I heard some domestic manufacturers have started acquiring more equipment and staff to meet the increased demand and growing backlog of orders. Sounds like Obama may have finally done something that genuinely stimulated the economy, though of course only by accident.

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Craig

12:14 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Second hand from gun show sources seems a better choice right now. They can't come for them if they have no record of them in your possession.
Oh and ammo, must have lots of ammo,

Doug Huffman

6:24 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Yes, vote with your dollars!

19 January is Gun Appreciation Day, 48 hours before the imPOTUS inauguration. As we have showed our appreciation, with dollars, to Hobby Lobby and Starbucks for resisting the Obamanation, show your appreciation of our Right to Keep And Bear Arms!

Yes, buy and stockpile - dare I say 'hoard' - ammunition. Like gold, its value is intrinsic and extrinsic and only going up. My preferred self-defense ammo's cost used to be trivial, now it costs what .50 BMG used to cost and .50 BMG is $5 per round. Gun control through economic control, from the right or left is control.

Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers

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NewNRAMember

11:15 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

I daily carry my FN Five-seven with a 20 round magazine, thank you very much!!!

FreeThought Troy

9:33 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Yes... armed fear mongers. This is totally a good idea...

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Steve ®

9:56 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Those that live in fear want to ban a pieces of metal and springs. Boo!

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Johnny Blade

12:38 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Yes .. Disarmed SLAVES .. thats a better idea

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Wanda Williams

2:50 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

What has the armed man to fear?

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FreeThought Troy

2:52 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

... another armed man with a better gun & the suprise first move?

OffTheGrid

11:01 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

I'm good to go with the Kimber Tactical Ultra II .45 ACP.

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Johnny Blade

12:40 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Went with the Kimber desert warrior .. doesn't have that extra safety

Nuitari

11:27 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Anyone need "modifications" or "accessories"? Nuitari Gunsmith at your service.

Just kidding.

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Craig

12:28 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Looking for a hellfire accessory, do you have any in stock?

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Steve ®

1:15 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

I need a grenade launcher. It can disperse groups of low information voters at once.

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FreeThought Troy

1:21 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Yeah… and I need a AH-1Z Super Cobra/Viper because that is more ridiculous than any other post, to date

NewNRAMember

1:29 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Come on Troy, we all know that your dainty limp wrists can barely shoot an air pistol.

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FreeThought Troy

1:39 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

A personal attack coming from a radical conservative… shocking!

Nuitari

2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

The key is to get the ones with the serial numbers on them.

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Bren

2:30 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

All I can "say" is that the more guns in circulation, the greater the opportunity for criminals, gangs, and mentally unstable individuals (i.e. folks we do not want to have guns) to get their hands on a weapon, legally or otherwise.

Neither Alexander McQueen or Givenchy (my designers of choice) offer a bullet-proof jacket, though Givenchy does have a rather nice army duffle bag in flat cammo green... Well, I'll keep shopping for a vest, hopefully before I'm shot.

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CowDung

2:37 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

You're getting a bit dramatic with your fear mongering, Bren...

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Craig

2:47 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Buying an assault rifle with multiple magazines has just moved to the top of my wish list. It has to be done before any new bans are in place.
I also advise to stockpile ammunition before that is taxed to hell like cigarettes.
Don't worry Bren, they will not wind up in the hands of thugs.
"Outta my cold dead hands !"

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FreeThought Troy

2:54 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

I know all the NRA folks are freaking out, now. But I am honestly telling you that nothing will happen. Congress will be arguing about other things and the NRA lobby will make sure the whole issue is never heard from again.

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CowDung

3:08 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

I guess lobby groups are only bad if you don't agree with their position...

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Bren

3:58 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Tell that to my uncle, Cow. Oh wait, he's dead, shot dead at point blank range in a coffee shop, not by the armed robber, but by the guy behind the counter who pulled out a gun and started firing.

Craig, I hope not.

FreeThought, you are probably right. But at least some people have actually looked at the entire Second Amendment, which hasn't happened in a while.

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CowDung

4:21 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Was your uncle shot by one of the 'criminals, gangs, and mentally unstable individuals (i.e. folks we do not want to have guns) that you mentioned as the reason for your search for a 'designer' bullet proof vest?

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Craig

10:27 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Bren: No disrespect intended but I am serious as a heart attack. With pending bans, my number 10 on the wish list has got to be bumped up to number one- before it is too late.
Sorry for your loss regarding your uncle.

Wanda Williams

2:53 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Dick's and Walmar[k] out of business: This is good news for me, as I have been hard-pressed to replace the 73 ARs I've sold since Ubama's reelection. As cosmetic assault weapon production reaches wartime levels, I stand a better chance of restocking if the evil BIG CORPORATIONS are no longer competing with me for this high-demand product.

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Fred van der Wal

3:29 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Men buys weapons out of fear for other men buying more weapons.
Men without weapons don't walk in fear for they have no one to fear.

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Craig

3:50 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Men without balls aren't men either.

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Keith Schmitz

12:55 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Generally describes why guns are needed in the first place for guys like you in lieu of gentiles.

Fred van der Wal

4:10 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Anyone anywhere, who carries a gun in public, must either be in huge danger, be extremely stupid, or be an absolute shameful coward. There is no other reason to want to carry a gun in a civilized country.

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CowDung

4:19 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Most police officers consider it to be part of the job...

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CowDung

4:24 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

...are you going to let the members of the Milwaukee police department know that they are "absolute shameful cowards"?

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Craig

4:27 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Fred isn't a real American anyways. So he can blow it out his ass.

Fred van der Wal

4:32 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Cowards hide behind a gun. A real man can walk the streets without fear. Its done in the UK, Australia, Germany, France, and dozens of others, all the time. A man should never become so fearful that he needs to have a gun to feel safe. Keep fit and learn to fight. That's what men with balls do.

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CowDung

4:36 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

James Bond has balls...

...and a gun.

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CowDung

4:44 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Perhaps British police should think a bit more about their decision not to carry guns...

"With flowers, prayers and heartfelt messages of thanks, Britain united yesterday to pay tribute to two policewomen gunned down in the line of duty."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2204991/Dale-Cregan-arrest-Witness-saw-gunman-kill-PCs-Fiona-Bone-32-Nicola-Hughes-23.html

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Nuitari

4:52 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Fred you might want to go to the Google machine and look up gun crimes in the UK and get back to us. Bans don't work.

I agree though, guns are uncivilized in duels. Fisticuffs all the way.

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c

5:31 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Fred, walk down the ghetto at 2:00 am, with your white face showing and no gun.

Please, do us a favor and show us how "brave" you are. You'll deserve what happens to you.

Weak effeminate eurotrash.

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Nuitari

6:49 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

I won't even go cross the county line to test that.

AWD

8:38 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

These gun control Progressives conflate fear with opposition. They love to say we whites are fearful in place of engaging our arguments, and in doing so attempt to pathologize us = Cultural Obama Marxism 101. I know facts won't persuade the totalitarian Progressives but they do help to neutralize their propaganda among the uncommitted sections of the population, and strengthen public resistance.

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WPN1488

11:01 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

The more I read about Sandy Hook the more I believe the Obama Regime are capable of pure evil and will stop at nothing to get their radical agenda through. I have a feeling America is about to experience some serious buyer’s remorse about the decision they made last November 6th.

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Keith Schmitz

12:57 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The President and others are responding to the spectacle of bullet riddled kids. If that's pure evil, you have no soul, brain, morality, guts...

Thanks to this discussion, once again this confirms why Patch has become a sewer.

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Candy Galore

11:03 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013

I thought you were going to present something better than Jon ranting, with your bold "here idiots, learn something" introduction...

You seem pretty angry, almost like you might want to shoot somebody...

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Candy Galore

11:08 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013

and I'm confused about your earlier comment..."Generally describes why guns are needed in the first place for guys like you in lieu of gentiles."
there are gentiles everywhere, gentiles and non-gentiles (if that's a word) own guns

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