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Crime Information BureauHandgun Hotline
The Hotline is staffed with six operators and their supervisor. It is operational seven days a week, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All registered firearm dealers are required to call the Crime Information Bureau - Handgun Hotline before transferring a handgun. A 48-hour waiting period begins when the initial call is received by the hotline operator. The dealer will receive a "call confirmation number" to verify that the check was initiated. The dealer will be given an approval number or a denial number for the transfer of the handgun when eligibility or non-eligibility can be determined. The law provides for a three (3) day extension when eligibility cannot be determined within the 48-hour period. Any person denied approval to purchase a handgun has ten (10) days to request review of the decision and an additional ten days to appeal. Upon notification of appeal the individual is provided a fingerprint card and instructed to be fingerprinted by their local law enforcement agency. Upon submission of the fingerprint card a positive identification is made to the record used as a basis for denial. When fingerprints are not identical the denial is reversed and the handgun may be transferred. The enactment of the Brady Bill, effective February 28, 1994, and its five (5) day waiting period for handgun sales does not affect Wisconsin's 48 hour waiting period for handgun sales. The State is exempt from the longer waiting period because Wisconsin law already requires criminal background checks for handgun purchases. Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and clerks of court may be contacted by the Handgun Hotline to obtain copies of incident reports, criminal complaints and judgment of convictions in order for them to determine if the prospective purchaser has any known disqualifiers. Wisconsin Statute 175.35, effective December 1, 1991, requires that all Wisconsin firearms dealers licensed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conduct a mandatory background check for any person requesting to purchase a handgun in Wisconsin. Law enforcement agencies are not authorized to conduct criminal background checks for local gun dealers. Handgun Hotline hours of operation continue to be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday thru Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Thanks to the continued cooperation and participation of Wisconsin Firearms Dealers, the Hotline program is able to operate efficiently and effectively. Our office continues to receive comments, questions and recommendations from dealers relating to the administration of this new program. National Instant Checks System (NICS) In November of 1998, the FBI implemented the National Instant Firearms Background Checks System. Because Wisconsin already does background checks on handguns, Wisconsin dealers use the Handgun Hotline for transfers of handguns and NICS for all other firearms. The Hotline does assist NICS on follow-ups to determine eligibility for transfer of long guns when requested.
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