“Determining the weapon’s origin, who purchased it, and how it ended up in the hands of a 15-year-old girl will be critical to the case,” Chief Barnes said.
Madison’s mayor refrained from commenting on potential criminal charges against the parents. Investigators confirmed that the parents are cooperating with authorities and, as of now, there is no evidence that they committed a crime.
Wisconsin Law
Wisconsin law imposes restrictions on children’s access to firearms. Dane County Executive Melissa Agard criticized the state’s existing regulations, describing them as insufficient.
“Our laws in Wisconsin are far too lax when it comes to access to guns by children,” Agard stated. “We need comprehensive background checks, red flag laws, and adequate behavioral health support in our communities. People seeking help shouldn’t have to wait.”
State law prohibits the intentional sale, loan, or gifting of firearms to anyone under 18, except in specific cases such as target practice under adult supervision, military service, or hunting. Violating this law can lead to a prison sentence of up to three and a half years. If a minor uses the firearm to cause death, the penalty increases to six years in prison.
Holding Parents Accountable
Wisconsin’s child access firearm law further penalizes reckless storage of loaded firearms accessible to children under 14. Individuals can face up to nine months in prison if a child accesses the firearm without permission and causes harm or death to themselves or others.
