Wisconsin is a state that has relatively lenient gun laws, especially when compared to other states. In Wisconsin, you do not need to have a permit to own or possess a firearm. As long as you are not prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm, and you pass a background check, you can legally carry your firearm in public, as long as it is not hidden from plain view. Once you hide the firearm from plain view, you are considered to be carrying a concealed handgun, which requires a concealed carry weapons (CCW) license.

When it comes to transporting firearms, the rules can become a little vague. Is the interior of a vehicle considered “concealed?” Do you need a permit to transport a firearm? There are certain rules that you must follow to legally transport a firearm in Wisconsin. The rules do vary, however, depending on whether or not you have a CCW. By remaining aware of how the laws apply to you, you can avoid any potential weapons charges.

Transporting a Gun With a CCW License

According to Wisconsin laws, residents who legally possess a CCW license can carry a loaded and concealed handgun in their vehicle. However, rifles and shotguns, also known as long guns, have different rules. You are permitted to transport them while they are not in a case, but you are not permitted to conceal them within your vehicle. This means that all rifles and shotguns must be unloaded and in plain view from outside of the vehicle or out of reach of people in the vehicle.

The time spent in the criminal justice system begins when a person is arrested. After an arrest, an individual will be charged with a crime if the prosecution finds that there is enough evidence to do so. Next, the alleged offender and his or her attorney may be able to reach a plea bargain with the prosecution, or the case may proceed to trial. Once everything is said and done, a judge will deliver a sentence for the crime if the defendant is convicted or pleads guilty. In Wisconsin, each crime has a different classification, which typically depends on the seriousness and nature of the offense. In some cases, the prosecution can push to have a sentence increased if there are aggravating factors present. That is why it is important to understand what circumstances can lead to harsher sentencing.

Examples of Aggravating Factors

Typically, there are a variety of factors that can increase the severity of the sentence for a crime. These are usually referred to as aggravating factors, and they may include anything from the location where the crime allegedly took place to the damage allegedly caused by the crime. In Wisconsin, there are various actions or behaviors that could affect a person’s sentence. These may include:

The Social Security Administration (SSA) exists to help Americans when they need it the most. Two of the administration’s most popular programs, social security disability insurance (SSDI) and supplemental security income (SSI), are both available to disabled individuals who have little to no financial resources. Eligibility requirements differ for the programs, which is why some individuals may qualify for one program but not the other. One of the requirements involves how much an individual worked before he or she was injured or became ill. Not having enough work experience can be one reason why your SSDI claim may be denied.

Understanding SSA Work Credits

In order to receive benefits through the SSA, you must have worked a certain period of time and earned enough money to be eligible. The SSA measures your contributions through work credits, which are based on your total yearly income. One work credit is earned when you make $1,410 in wages, but you can only earn up to four work credits per year. Once you have earned $5,640, you have earned your four work credits for the year.

For many divorcing couples, the well-being of their children is at the top of their list of priorities. Nearly every parent who has ever even considered getting a divorce has likely thought about how the end of their marriage will affect their children. Some parents may think that getting a divorce would traumatize their children, but studies actually show that most children adapt fairly well after divorce, as long as their parents put in an effort to create a loving and stable environment. Breaking the news of your divorce to your children is the first step in helping your children adapt to life with divorced parents. 

A Difficult Conversation

Although you may be dreading telling your children that you and your spouse are ending your marriage, it has to be done. Here are a few tips you can use when having that challenging talk:

Sometimes, the only thing people know about the criminal justice system is what they have seen in movies and on television. In many of those fictional cases, the offender ends up going to trial, and the defendant’s attorney fights to get him or her free. What most people do not know is that the majority of real-life criminal cases actually do not go to trial. Most of the time, the defense and the prosecution are able to work out some sort of deal for the defendant to plead guilty, who then receives a lesser punishment in exchange for the guilty plea. Similar to a settlement in a civil case, this is called a plea bargain, and it is regularly used in the criminal justice system. 

What Is a Plea Bargain?

A plea bargain is an agreement that is made between the defendant’s lawyer and the prosecutor to settle a criminal case, rather than taking that case to trial. Most of the time, the plea agreement involves the defendant pleading guilty in order to receive a less severe sentence. There are three main types of plea bargains: