r/wisconsinpolitics

All of this is in the court record from the lawsuits.

Draft maps had names like "Joe's Basemap Assertive" and "Tad Aggressive."

There was a spreadsheet called "Tale of the Tape" with a list of "GOP Donors to the Team." Not money. It meant Republicans in safe seats who gave up some of their voters to help other districts.

One state senator sent this in: "If you need a way to take the Staskunas seat, put a little bit of my Senate seat into New Berlin (2–3 wards could make that a GOP Assembly seat)."

They tested the final map before passing it and it kept a majority with 48% of the vote. Next election Republicans got 48.6% and 60 of 99 seats. In 2018 Evers won the state and carried 36 of the 99 Assembly districts.

The staff testified it wasn't about partisan advantage. The judges called that "almost laughable."

https://www.callthemap.com/news/the-house-always-wins#passage-3

Wisconsin politics angle: after ATF's Oct 9 enforcement change, Wis. Stat. §§ 941.298 and 941.28 still leave residents facing Class H felony risk unless Madison updates the statutes.

On Friday, Oct 9, DOJ and ATF announced they will no longer require approval or registration under the NFA for suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, and AOWs, nationwide. This follows the Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF / Jensen v. ATF ruling in August. (The $200 tax on these items was already cut to $0 on Jan 1, 2026.)

But there's a big catch for Wisconsin. ATF's change is an enforcement policy. It doesn't repeal the NFA, and ATF says it doesn't change state law. Under Wis. Stat. § 941.298 (suppressors) and § 941.28 (SBRs and SBSs), possession is a Class H felony (up to 6 years and $10,000) unless you've "complied with the licensing and registration requirements under 26 USC 5801 to 5872." No Wisconsin court has ruled on how that applies now.

Until Madison fixes this, don't assume an unregistered suppressor or SBR is legal in Wisconsin. ATF is still processing Form 1s and Form 4s voluntarily, "because many state laws require individuals to register NFA firearms." Don't deregister anything you already own, since ATF says those items can't be re-registered later. You still need a Form 20 to take an SBR or SBS across state lines.

What you can do today (2 minutes):

1. Go to https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/ and enter your address to find your state Senator and Assembly Representative.
2. Copy the template below, personalize it, and email them.

Email template

Subject: Please update Wis. Stat. §§ 941.298 and 941.28 after the ATF's NFA change

Dear Senator [Last Name] and Representative [Last Name],

I'm a law-abiding gun owner in your district. Please introduce, co-sponsor, or support legislation to amend Wis. Stat. § 941.298(3)(c) and § 941.28(4).

On October 9, 2026, ATF announced it will no longer require federal approval or registration under the National Firearms Act for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns. Wisconsin law makes the legality of these items depend on compliance with federal NFA registration under 26 U.S.C. §§ 5801–5872, so responsible Wisconsin residents are now stuck in legal uncertainty, facing possible Class H felony charges under a federal system that is no longer being enforced.

Please remove the federal registration condition from these statutes so Wisconsin law matches current federal policy and responsible gun owners aren't left facing felony risk.

Thank you. I'd appreciate hearing your position on this.

Sincerely, [Your Name] [Street Address] [City, WI ZIP]

Not legal advice. Talk to an attorney about your own situation.