Assembly Bill 489 establishes a voluntary program allowing individuals in Wisconsin to prohibit themselves from purchasing handguns. The bill mandates the Department of Justice (DOJ) to create and maintain a database of individuals who opt for this prohibition. Individuals can request to be included in the database by submitting a form that includes their contact information and specifies the duration of the prohibition, which can be one year (irrevocable), five years (with the first year irrevocable), or twenty years (with the first year irrevocable). The DOJ is required to verify the request and will indicate to licensed firearm dealers that the individual is prohibited from purchasing a handgun when conducting background checks.

Additionally, the bill amends existing statutes to incorporate the new database into the firearms restrictions record search process. Specifically, it updates the definition of a firearms restrictions record search to include checks against the new database, ensuring that if an individual is listed, the DOJ will provide a unique nonapproval number to firearm dealers without disclosing the reason for the prohibition. The bill also outlines the process for individuals to request removal from the database, including a mandatory 48-hour waiting period before removal can occur.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 175.35(1)(at), 175.35