<P> On March 8, 2017, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Madison's Metro Transit rule forbidding firearms on public buses violated the state's preemption law, and that people who are lawfully carrying arms must be allowed to carry on public buses . </P> <P> Wisconsin is a shall - issue state for concealed carry licensing . As of November 1, 2011, Wisconsin residents may apply for a concealed carry license through the Wisconsin Department of Justice . The law allows Wisconsin to become the 49th state in the Union to make some provision for the concealed carry of firearms by normal citizens . </P> <P> Open carry is legal anywhere concealed carry is legal . It is legal for all adults who are 18 years of age or older unless they are prohibited from possession of firearms . A license is not required unless in a taxpayer - owned building or within 1000 feet of school property and not on private property . </P> <P> In the past, some jurisdictions have tried to prosecute open - carry by equating the open carry of handguns with disorderly conduct . On April 20, 2009 the Wisconsin Attorney General's office released a memorandum to all law enforcement agencies stating that mere open carry of a firearm was not disorderly conduct, and instructed both law enforcement and the district attorneys to cease this practice . </P>

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