Wisconsin bill would ban undetectable firearms

Wisconsin lawmakers have not advanced legislation that would ban undetectable firearms, also known as "ghost guns," despite growing support for the measure among state residents. The Wisconsin State Legislature has not passed the proposed ban, which would criminalize the manufacturing, transportation, sale, and possession of firearms that cannot be detected by metal detectors or airport security scanners.

Governor Tony Evers included the ghost gun ban in his 2025-27 executive budget proposal as part of a broader gun safety agenda. Under the proposed legislation, violating the undetectable firearm prohibition would be a Class G felony, while possessing plans to manufacture such weapons would be a Class H felony. The bill would also require serial numbers on firearm frames and receivers, making it easier for law enforcement to trace weapons used in crimes.

For Milwaukee residents, the measure reflects a statewide concern about untraceable weapons. Ghost guns are assembled from kits or separate pieces purchased online and lack serial numbers, making them impossible to track through traditional law enforcement channels. According to polling data cited by the governor's office, 79 percent of Wisconsin voters, including gun owners, support mandatory background checks on firearm purchases—a related safety measure that has also stalled in the Republican-controlled legislature.

The proposal faces an uphill battle in the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate, where Republicans hold the majority and have shown little appetite for new gun restrictions. Meanwhile, federal law already prohibits undetectable firearms, leaving Wisconsin without its own state-level enforcement mechanism.