WI Lawmakers Want To Change Gun Laws After Charges Dropped In Rittenhouse Trial

WISCONSIN — Democratic legislators want amend a Wisconsin gun law that allowed Kyle Rittenhouse to legally carry an AR-15-style rifle as a minor in downtown Kenosha.

Rittenhouse was acquitted of first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, two counts of recklessly endangering safety and attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the killing of two protesters and wounding of a third in Kenosha in August 2020.

Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder, who was presiding over Rittenhouse's trial, dropped a gun charge against Rittenhouse because the AR-15-style rifle he had was legal for a minor to possess in Wisconsin.

The law Rittenhouse was charged with breaking was Section 948.60, which prohibits people 18 and under from possessing firearms. However, because the rifle he used wasn't "short-barreled," he was allowed to carry it at a protest in downtown Kenosha under the law.

People under 18 can carry long guns in Wisconsin under the law, however lawmakers want to change this to only allow possession while hunting.

State Sen. Melissa Agard (D-Madison) and other Wisconsin Democrats introduced legislation Monday to amend Section 948.60 and add a clause that says minors can only possess long guns when legally hunting.

Minors would not be allowed to be armed with a rifle or shotgun if the weapon they have is short-barreled or if they aren't legally hunting, according to the proposal.

Rifles and shotguns are deemed "short-barreled" if they have a barrel length under 16 inches or an overall length under 26 inches, state law says.

The proposal will need co-sponsors from the Assembly before it can be assigned a bill number and be voted on, Sen. Agard's communications director, Sydney Litke, told Patch.

The bill would be voted on in three separate hearings in the Wisconsin State Senate before being moved to the Wisconsin State Assembly, both of which are dominated by Republican lawmakers.

Only after the bill passes through both houses will it go to Gov. Tony Evers' desk, who may decide to sign it or veto it.

"We knew [Rittenhouse] wasn't in Wisconsin to go deer hunting, so we thought it was important to clarify the law," Rep. Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay,) who co-sponsored the bill, told WISN-12.

"When laws allowing minors to go hunting are used as an excuse to carry guns anywhere, it is our duty as legislators to fix the law," Andraca said in a statement. "Today I introduced a bill with my colleagues from Kenosha to preserve Wisconsin hunting traditions, close the loophole and keep communities safe."

State Sen. Bob Wirch (D-Somers) and Rep. Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha) and Rep. Tip McGuire (D-Kenosha) also co-sponsored the bill with Agard.