948.55 Leaving or storing a loaded firearm within the reach or easy access of a child.

(1) In this section, “child" means a person who has not attained the age of 14 years.

(2) Whoever recklessly stores or leaves a loaded firearm within the reach or easy access of a child is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if all of the following occur:

(a) A child obtains the firearm without the lawful permission of his or her parent or guardian or the person having charge of the child.

(b) The child under par. (a) discharges the firearm and the discharge causes bodily harm or death to himself, herself or another.

(3) Whoever recklessly stores or leaves a loaded firearm within the reach or easy access of a child is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor if all of the following occur:

(a) A child obtains the firearm without the lawful permission of his or her parent or guardian or the person having charge of the child.

(b) The child under par. (a) possesses or exhibits the firearm in a public place or in violation of s. 941.20.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply under any of the following circumstances:

(a) The firearm is stored or left in a securely locked box or container or in a location that a reasonable person would believe to be secure.

(b) The firearm is securely locked with a trigger lock.

(c) The firearm is left on the person's body or in such proximity to the person's body that he or she could retrieve it as easily and quickly as if carried on his or her body.

(d) The person is a peace officer or a member of the armed forces or national guard and the child obtains the firearm during or incidental to the performance of the person's duties. Notwithstanding s. 939.22 (22), for purposes of this paragraph, peace officer does not include a commission warden who is not a state-certified commission warden.

(e) The child obtains the firearm as a result of an illegal entry by any person.

(f) The child gains access to a loaded firearm and uses it in the lawful exercise of a privilege under s. 939.48.

(g) The person who stores or leaves a loaded firearm reasonably believes that a child is not likely to be present where the firearm is stored or left.

(h) The firearm is rendered inoperable by the removal of an essential component of the firing mechanism such as the bolt in a breech-loading firearm.

(5) Subsection (2) does not apply if the bodily harm or death resulted from an accident that occurs while the child is using the firearm in accordance with s. 29.304 or 948.60 (3).

History: 1991 a. 139; 1997 a. 248; 2007 a. 27.