Wis. Stat. § 941.291 — WI Code / Chapter 941 / Section 941.291
Possession of body armor.
Status: in_force

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Body armor” means any garment that is designed, redesigned, or adapted to prevent bullets from penetrating through the garment.

(b) “Violent felony” means any felony, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit any felony, under s. 943.23 (1m) or (1r) , 1999 stats., s. 943.23 (1g) , 2021 stats., s. 940.19 , 2023 stats., s. 940.195 , 2023 stats., s. 940.198 , 2023 stats., s. 940.20 , 2023 stats., s. 940.201 , 2023 stats., s. 940.203 , 2023 stats., or s. 940.204 , 2023 stats., or s. 940.01 , 940.02 , 940.03 , 940.05 , 940.06 , 940.08 , 940.09 , 940.10 , 940.21 , 940.225 , 940.23 , 940.285 (2) , 940.29 , 940.295 (3) , 940.30 , 940.305 , 940.31 , 940.43 (1) to (3) , 940.45 (1) to (3) , 940.60 , 940.61 , 940.62 , 940.65 , 940.66 , 941.20 , 941.26 , 941.28 , 941.29 , 941.30 , 941.327 , 943.01 (2) (c) , 943.011 , 943.013 , 943.02 , 943.04 , 943.06 , 943.10 (2) , 943.231 (1) , 943.32 , 943.81 , 943.82 , 943.83 , 943.85 , 943.86 , 943.87 , 943.88 , 943.89 , 943.90 , 946.43 , 947.015 , 947.016 (1) , (2) , or (3) , 948.02 (1) or (2) , 948.025 , 948.03 , 948.04 , 948.05 , 948.06 , 948.07 , 948.072 , 948.08 , 948.085 , or 948.30 ; or, if the victim is a financial institution, as defined in s. 943.80 (2) , a felony, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a felony under s. 943.84 (1) or (2) .

(2) Prohibition. Except as provided in subs. (4) , (5) , (5m) , and (6) , no person may possess body armor if any of the following applies to the person:

(a) The person has been convicted of a violent felony in this state and has not been pardoned for it.

(b) The person has been convicted of a crime elsewhere that would be a violent felony if committed in this state and has not been pardoned for it.

(c) The person has been adjudicated delinquent for an act that if committed by an adult in this state would be a violent felony.

(d) The person has been found not guilty of a violent felony in this state by reason of mental disease or defect.

(e) The person has been found not guilty of or not responsible for a crime elsewhere by reason of insanity or mental disease, defect, or illness if the crime would be a violent felony in this state.

(3) Penalty.

(a) Whoever violates sub. (2) is guilty of a Class E felony.

(b) Whoever violates sub. (2) after being convicted of violating sub. (2) is guilty of a Class D felony.

(4) Request by certain persons for complete or partial exemption from prohibition.

(a) A person who is otherwise prohibited from possessing body armor under sub. (2) may request a complete or partial exemption from the prohibition if all of the following apply:

1. The person has a reasonable need to possess body armor to ensure his or her personal safety, to earn a livelihood, or as a condition of employment.

2. The person is likely to use the body armor in a safe and lawful manner.

(b) A person seeking a complete or partial exemption under this subsection from the prohibition under sub. (2) shall request the exemption by filing a written motion in the circuit court for the county in which the person will possess the body armor. A person who files a motion under this paragraph shall send a copy of the motion to the district attorney for the county in which the motion is filed. The district attorney shall make a reasonable attempt to contact the county sheriff and, if applicable, the chief of police of a city, village, or town in the county in which the person will possess the body armor for the purpose of informing the sheriff and the chief of police that the person has made a request for an exemption and to solicit from the sheriff and chief of police any information that may be relevant to the criteria specified in par. (a) 1. and 2.

(c) A court deciding whether to grant a request for an exemption made under par. (b) may deny the request for an exemption, grant a complete exemption from the prohibition, or grant a partial exemption by allowing possession of body armor only under certain specified circumstances or in certain locations or both. In deciding whether a person satisfies the criteria specified in par. (a) 1. and 2. and, if so, whether to grant an exemption, the court shall consider the person’s character, including the person’s criminal record, the totality of the person’s circumstances, and any relevant evidence of the person’s character and circumstances, including any relevant evidence submitted by the district attorney who received the copy of the motion under par. (b) .

(d) If a court grants a request for an exemption under par. (c) , the court shall issue a written order of exemption to the person who requested the exemption. The exemption is valid only in the county in which the court is located. If the exemption is a partial exemption, the order shall specify the circumstances under which the person may possess body armor, the locations in which the person may possess body armor, or, if applicable, both. The person granted the exemption shall carry a copy of the order of exemption at all times during which he or she is in possession of body armor. The clerk of the circuit court shall send a copy of the order of exemption to the county sheriff and, if applicable, to the chief of police of a city, village, or town in the county in which the person will possess the body armor.

(5) Exemption based on request of law enforcement agency for certain witnesses and informers. A person who is otherwise prohibited from possessing body armor under sub. (2) may wear body armor if the person is furnishing or has furnished information to a law enforcement agency relating to a possible violation of law or is assisting or has assisted a law enforcement agency in an investigation of a possible violation of law and is wearing the body armor at the request or direction of the law enforcement agency.

(5m) Exemption based on request by certain witnesses and informers.

(a) A person who is otherwise prohibited from possessing body armor under sub. (2) may possess body armor if all of the following apply:

2. The law enforcement agency to which the person is furnishing or has furnished information or to which the person is providing or has provided assistance determines that there is reason to believe that the person may be in danger of suffering death or great bodily harm because he or she is furnishing or has furnished information or because he or she is assisting or has assisted or is assisting in an investigation.

3. The law enforcement agency to which the person is furnishing or has furnished information or to which the person is providing or has provided assistance approves of the person’s request to possess body armor under par. (b) .

(b) A person seeking an exemption under this subsection from the prohibition under sub. (2) shall request the exemption from the law enforcement agency to which the person is furnishing or has furnished information or to which the person is providing or has provided assistance. The law enforcement agency may deny the request for an exemption, grant a complete exemption from the prohibition, or grant a partial exemption by allowing possession of body armor only under certain specified circumstances or in certain locations or both. If the law enforcement agency grants a request for an exemption under this subsection, it shall keep a written record of the exemption. If the exemption is a partial exemption, the record shall specify the circumstances under which the person may possess body armor, the locations in which the person may possess body armor, or, if applicable, both. A written record relating to an exemption granted by a law enforcement agency under this subsection is not subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35 (1) , except that a written record shall, upon request, be disclosed to another law enforcement agency or a district attorney, if the other law enforcement agency or the district attorney is investigating or prosecuting an alleged violation of sub. (2) or to the person to whom the exemption was granted.

(6) Exemption from prohibition for certain prisoners. A person who is prohibited from possessing body armor under sub. (2) may wear body armor if he or she is in the actual custody of a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 165.85 (2) (c) , or a correctional officer, as defined in s. 102.475 (8) (a) , and is wearing the body armor at the request or direction of the law enforcement officer or correctional officer.

History: 2001 a. 95 ; 2003 a. 321 ; 2005 a. 212 , 277 ; 2007 a. 97 ; 2021 a. 76 , 209 ; 2023 a. 10 ; 2025 a. 24 s. 93 ; 2025 a. 88 .