Two Men Parade Around Wisconsin Farmers Market Carrying AR-15 Rifles

[Capt. Obvious]

The gun rights debate has swept up Appleton, Wisc. after two men showed up at a farmers market there last weekend with AR-15 rifles strapped over their shoulders and handguns in their holsters.

Charles Branstrom, 27, and Ross Bauman, 22, were held at gunpoint and placed in handcuffs by police for the stunt last Saturday, prompting outrage from a local pro-gun group.

"I would never blame police for following up on 'man with a gun' calls, but they still have to behave within the limits of the law and abide by people's constitutional rights," Nik Clark, president of the gun rights group Wisconsin Carry, Inc. told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I believe the police were acting outside of their legal authority when they pointed guns at the individuals and involuntarily detained them."

....

According to the Journal Sentinel, the recording shows Branstrom and Bauman walking down the street when they are confronted by police who ask why they are brandishing their weapons.

"For self-defense," Branstrom said.

....

Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn dismissed the Second Amendment argument levied by pro-gun groups while denouncing both Branstrom and Bauman.

"In a post Aurora-Newtown environment, it's a reckless and irresponsible stunt to strut around in public with an assault-style weapon and think police should assume you're well-intentioned," Flynn told the Journal Sentinel. "It's just absurd. This has nothing to do with the Second Amendment. These characters and those who support them should be ashamed of themselves."

Only way to stop bad produce is a good guy with a gun.

[FSogol]

1. Start charging these "patriots" the cost of their arrest.

Like how ambulances charge people who use them too much.

[rl6214]

49. They were not arrested.

[warrant46]

52. And what they were doing was legal

But certainly not well intentioned in the new fascist amerika where only the police are armed with open carry.

[NYC_SKP]

73. I'm calling bullshit that in a post-Newtown world we have to act particularly different.

Yes, what they were doing was absolutely 100% legal.

But as stupid as it could be, they pissed of the local gun group AND the police and probably many market goers.

So yes, their intentions were to be a nuisance and I'm glad they got some grief for it.

But fuck that shit that we're supposed to be all different post-Newtown, this would have been stupid BEFORE Aurora and Newtown.

It's the same stupid argument as being different post-9/11.

And look at what we got out of that: x-rays at airports, no fly lists, loss of rights.

Fuck that shit, we're stronger than that and we will rise above it.

[warrant46]

83. I agree with you

that we're supposed to be all different post-Newtown <NOT>

And it was stupid !!

[NYC_SKP]

87. Maybe that's what makes me most angry about the recent round of knee-jerk gun grab laws, CO, CA, IL,

That they are reactionary, they are emotional rather than rational.

And, again, just like with 911, the powers that want to take away our independence use that event to do it.

I won't stand by while any of our rights are taken piecemeal, and I sure as hell won't abide by some pressure to feel particularly sad about gun tragedies.

Using tragedies to make political points, pass unpopular laws, and make people who might want otherwise out to be cold and heartless is, well, bullshit.

[warrant46]

88. Well put

[Bandit]

134. Background checks and smaller magazines are NOT Gun Grabber Laws

You defeat your own argument by saying such things.

[NYC_SKP]

135. I never ever ever ever said checks and smaller mags are gun grabber laws. Never ever.

In fact I've said that I want universal and consistent from state to state background checks.

A million times. I've said I would expand California's laws to all other 49 states. I guess you missed that.

I guess you also missed the proposed law in California that would reclassify ANY semi-automatic rifle with a removable magazine as an "assault rifle" and REQUIRE registration.

That's a gun grabber law.

And to be fair, limits to seven rounds are just as bad.

I think 15 should be the lower limit but numbers above that are not.

[FSogol]

111. Causing a disturbance is legal?

[wild bird]

116. The WI AG put out a memo stating that mere carrying of firearms was not grounds

for charging someone with disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Wisconsin#Open_Carry

Open Carry

Open carry is legal anywhere concealed carry is legal, is legal for all adults (18+) who are not prohibited from possession, and does not require a license unless the citizen is in a taxpayer-owned building or within 1000' from the edge of a school property (_and_ not on private property).

In the past, some jurisdictions have tried to prosecute open-carry by equating the open carry of handguns with disorderly conduct. On April 20, 2009 the Wisconsin Attorney General's office released a memorandum to all law enforcement agencies stating that mere open carry of a firearm was not disorderly conduct, and instructed both law enforcement and the district attorneys to cease this practice.

In 2011 a subsection was added to the Disorderly Conduct statute (947.01 ) reading "Unless other facts and circumstances that indicate a criminal or malicious intent on the part of the person apply, a person is not in violation of, and may not be charged with a violation of, this section for loading, carrying, or going armed with a firearm, without regard to whether the firearm is loaded or is concealed or openly carried." This codified open carry, ending any debate as to its legality.

Loading, or having a loaded, uncased handgun inside a vehicle was legalized beginning November 1, 2011. The firearm must not be "hidden from ordinary observation" while inside the vehicle unless the citizen has a license.

[FSogol]

119. I didn't realize the AR-15 was a handgun. Thanks for the info!

[An_enlightened_soul]

126. Correct

AR-15s are firearms -- read the language of the statute.

[onehandle]

2. Always call the police when you encounter people with guns who are not LEOs...

...if they are not at a shooting range or see them hunting.

Parks, Coffee shops, J.C. Penneys, Farmers Markets, Malls...

It's not normal. Period.

[mick063]

4. This is a great idea.

One could even go as far as to tell the police "They threatened me".

Let gun toters explain their way out of that one.

A lie?

No. When I see folks with assault weapons in public places I truly do feel threatened.

[wild bird]

7. Not a good idea to lie to the cops.

You tell the cops they threatened you and they determine that was a lie, guess who"ll be going to jail?

It's a dumbass thing to be carrying in public, but if it's legal and you lie, you will most definitely be the one answering criminal charges.

Don't lie to the cops, it will lead to bad consequences.

[onehandle]

12. Right. All you have to do is say you 'feel threatened.'

I've seen it done. The cops will almost always ask the gun nut to remove the gun from the area.

Especially when Moms nearby witness the event.

Piece of cake.

[wild bird]

15. If it's legal, then all the cops can do is ASK them to leave.

If they have an ounce of sense, then they will, but don't lie to the cops and say someone threatened you if they actually didn't.
Just because someone is carrying is not a reason to tell the cops that you were threatened, if cops determine that you weren't actually threatened, you'll be the one facing a criminal charge, lying to the police is usually a felony offense.

I'd hate to see anyone get jammed up because of bad advice here.

And in case it's not well known, the gunners love to do this so that they can draw the attention of police, get them to react, film them and then sue the shit out of the city and police dept., and they usually win the lawsuit.

[onehandle]

19. Total bullshit.

'I feel threatened' is no lie.

'Please remove the gun from the area.'

They can stay. They can leave. What lawsuit?

I'd rather them stay and remain a visible pariah on society.

[wild bird]

32. Police get sued regularly for harrassing and detaining

people legally carrying. This is a favorite tactic of open carry advocates, they carry a camera with them hoping the police will harass them and detain them, then they sue the police and the city for false detainment.


http://www.dailybulletin.com/20120520/upland-settles-with-open-carry-weapon-advocates-over-incident-with-police

By Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer


Posted: 05/19/12, 9:00 PM PDT |


UPLAND - The city has reached a settlement agreement with two open carry weapon advocates who sued the city after a confrontation with police officers.

Christopher Hacopian of Ontario and Scott Gibb of Adelanto filed a complaint in July in federal court accusing two Upland officers of violating their 1st, 2nd and 4th Amendment rights.

They also accused the officers of battery.

The city agreed to settle for $37,500 last week, City Manager Stephen Dunn said.

Here's one against the Philadelphia Police filed by the ACLUPA.

http://www.aclupa.org/pressroom/gunrightsadvocatesuescityo.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2012

PHILADELPHIA – The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and the law firm of McCausland Keen & Buckman filed a federal lawsuit today against the city of Philadelphia on behalf of Mark Fiorino, a gun rights advocate who legally carries an unconcealed weapon in public. The suit alleges that the Philadelphia Police Department filed retaliatory charges against Fiorino after it learned that there was a YouTube recording of Philadelphia police officers threatening to shoot and screaming profanities at an unresisting Fiorino in February 2011. Fiorino was cleared of all charges in October 2011.

“This was a vindictive prosecution of Mr. Fiorino motivated solely by the fact that he publicly embarrassed the Philadelphia Police Department and threatened to sue them for their misbehavior,” said Reggie Shuford, executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “Citizens have the right to hold police accountable without fear that they will be harassed or prosecuted for doing so.”

Fiorino, a resident of Lansdale, Pa. (Montgomery County), is an avid gun rights supporter and carries his weapon openly holstered on his hip for protection. Despite having the proper license under Pennsylvania law to carry an unconcealed weapon in the city of Philadelphia, Fiorino has been repeatedly harassed by Philadelphia police officers who erroneously believed it is illegal to openly carry a weapon within the city limits. In one instance, despite the fact that Fiorino had broken no law, police confiscated Fiorino’s gun for five months before returning it. Because of these problems, Fiorino routinely audiotapes his interactions with law enforcement.

In September 2010, after an internal affairs investigation of two of Fiorino’s encounters with the police, the Philadelphia Police Department issued a revised policy, Directive 137, which states that holders of a License to Carry Firearms (LCTF) can legally carry an unconcealed weapon. However, according to the lawsuit, the Police Department failed to train its police officers about the revised policy

There are many such instances of this tactic by open carry advocates.

This is what they do and expect the same thing here also, there seems to be a video of the incident.

I'm not going to post it because it's on a RW website called Guns.com, but there is a video.

[billh58]

48. Remember who you're talking to.

Just sayin'...

[Politicalboi]

42. Just because someone is carrying is not a reason to tell the cops that you were threatened

In your world perhaps. In my world it IS a threat. I'm supposed to "trust" this idiot isn't going to go postal for NO reason. He needs to leave or be arrested. Not the ones who "feel" threatened. Yes, and let's play games with the police. They have all the time in the world to lecture these assholes about being dumb asses and bringing their paranoia with them everywhere they go.

It IS a threat to bring your weapon out in public. I hope like someone said, these clowns get fined for having to bother the police. When these assholes start paying tickets for exposure, maybe they will learn.

[wild bird]

46. Fined for what?

What you fail to realize is that these 2 asshats did nothing illegal, they weren't even cited.

The two men were not ticketed and were ultimately released without charges, but Branstrom recorded the confrontation with police. After six minutes, a police officer attempted to turn off the device but only managed to stop the video recording. The device captured 45 minutes of audio

What they did was idiotic, not illegal.

I don't like the carrying of guns in public, it's asshattery in the first degree, but lying to the police about being threatened when you weren't will get you in trouble.

Feeling threatened and being actually threatened are 2 different things.

[Downtown Hound]

68. Disturbing the peace? Being a public nuisance?

In this era were people read about gunmen going on rampages all the time, does anybody really expect everyone to just sit back and be calm when two idiots show up with AR-15's draped over their shoulders?

I would argue that the fear and in some cases, paranoia and panic that could result are more than enough to warrant a charge of Disturbing the Peace and perhaps creating a public nuisance.

Suppose some of those people in that crowd have PTSD? Or are perhaps survivors of gun violence themselves? Selfish asshole gun nuts never seem to think about this when exercising "their rights."

[wild bird]

70. They weren't cited for anything,

because they committed no crime.
You can bet that if the Appleton Police could have cited them, they would've.

The only crime they committed is the crime of asshattery, unfortunately, that's not in the penal code.

Selfish asshole gun nuts never seem to think about this when exercising "their rights."

Right on.

[Downtown Hound]

74. Well, your faith in the police is much greater than mine

I've encountered plenty of cops that would like to give clowns like these a job.

[wild bird]

80. My faith in the police is borderline.

I have a couple of relates that are cops and I wouldn't trust them with a squirt gun, much less than a real one,
but, during my long career, I met and worked with a variety of fine cops, and no, I wasn't a cop, but I was a public employee.

[billh58]

124. The Troll formerly known as Wild Bird

has left the building.

[Comrade Grumpy]

18. Cops should be sympathetic to that. They use it all the time...

...to justify their killings.

"I was in fear of my life..."

[shraby]

34. If I was walking toward someone with a gun out in plain sight like that, I wouldn't be

lying if I said I felt threatened, because I would be terrified out of my mind that the person intended to use it.

[wild bird]

39. Threatening and feeling threatened are 2 different things.

If their rifles are slung over their shoulders, you may feel threatened, I know I would, but your not actually being threatened.
If they have the rifles pointed at you, that's brandishing and then you're being threatened.
If you tell the cops that they threatened you, the cops will ask, did they point their guns at you, if you say yes and they determine that's not true, guess who's going to be charged with lying to the police.
If you say no, they'll usually send someone out to check it out but normally, they won't do anything other than ask the idiot to either put it away or leave the premises.

If this is on private property, the cops have no say whatsoever unless the owner wants them to leave.

What these 2 asshats did was stupid, but someone coming on this site and recommending lying to police to get these asshats in trouble is not a good idea.

[arcane1]

109. Or, at minimum, point and laugh

[Eleanors38]

130. You seem to be wishing for violent confrontation.

[rdharma]

9. I agree!

It's not normal and only a short time before there is a tragic "incident" involving one of these gun hugging nutjobs!

[Bennyboy]

3. Responsible gun owners....

Gun enthusiasts right here........ We sure don't know if they support the NRA so don't even go there.....

[wild bird]

5. Fucking dumbasses.

It's legal to do what they were doing, but they should have used good judgement and not done it.
Sad thing is that the police dept and city will now probably be facing a lawsuit for false detainment.

[msongs]

6. possession = intent to use nt

[onehandle]

13. Exactly right. nt

[Boom Sound 416]

36. Not even close

[Politicalboi]

43. Then WHY bring it?

I don't want to have to live in fear over gun nuts carrying guns around. This IS the 21st Century, not the 19th.

[Posteritatis]

76. Attention. (nt)

[billh58]

84. Bingo! n/t

[billh58]

63. +100

It's the Zimmerman mentality, and the implied threat of summary execution with the gun toter as accuser, prosecutor, judge and jury.

[zappaman]

8. "for self defense"

At a farmer's market???

"Officer, that heirloom tomato was giving me the stink-eye and that potato threatened me".

?437

[kentuck]

10. Disturbing the peace...

and creating a nuisance. Still is not legal.

[TeamPooka]

25. FYI, Disturbing the Peace and Public Nuisance are both prosecutable charges.

[hedgehog]

11. Crying fire in a crowded theater?

[wandy]

14. Couldn't they have just, like, opened their flys. nt

[LibertyLover]

17. I don't think that anything they had

that would have been exposed by an open fly would have scared anyone off, some people may have keeled over laughing, but not scared.

[wandy]

21. Tis what they were doing laddy all the same............

And I'm not even all that anti gun.

[rl6214]

61. Juvenile post of the thread winner

[billh58]

65. What? And let

everyone know why they needed the guns?

[NYC_SKP]

75. So what's going on here, a gun thread in GD? Awesome, I love this shit.

I like it here where everybody gets to discuss the topic and it's not an echo chamber.

How have you been, billh58?

I'll be in Hawaii again this November, this time on Oahu.

I have to be in Waipahu on the 13th and in Kaneohe on the 15th, but hope to have a couple days to goof around.

I was there last year, twice, and was at Koolau and Kaneohe but didn't go to the nearby botanical gardens.

On another assignment, I stayed on the North Shore near Waimea Bay.

I like the natural wonders, and to a degree, authentic cultural sites.

Any suggestions?

Aloha and Mahalo!

.

.

[billh58]

79. Anybody else

smell that?

[NYC_SKP]

89. You absolutely rock, billh58!

I think that smell is pipikaula from Helena's!

There's one in Honolulu Chinatown.

We ought to hook up, my treat!!!

[Aristus]

16. God, I hate these putrid fucks with the heat of a thousand white suns.

Them, and their ridiculous, juvenile Rambo fantasies.

What kind of lame-ass loser needs "self-defense" at a farmers' market?

[CTyankee]

121. methinks because they think of it as place where treehuggers and sissies go and they want

to scare them and make them hysterical. Sadly consistent with the stereotype that pro-gun folk decry so much...kinda upsets that argument...

[Solly Mack]

20. Damn terrorist produce. Fucking oranges!

I'll beat you to a pulp!

Gonna cap me some heads of lettuce.

[otohara]

22. No Tragic Accidents...Whew

Irresponsible gun owners are everywhere.
No one is safe.

[DreamGypsy]

23. Only a good guy with a gun...

... can stop a bad guy with an organically grown cucumber.

[shenmue]

24. Defense against what, grapes?

[0rganism]

55. hey, fresh fruit in the wrong hands can be quite dangerous

[Warren DeMontague]

132. Heirloom Tomatoes.

they killed 22 men... one of 'em just for snorin' too loud!

[JBoy]

26. Mr. Branstrom thinks Aurora would have been prevented

if only the theater had allowed concealed carry.

And he's a big enough douche about it to set his Google+ posts to "public".

https://plus.google.com/111257815287358459487/posts/W5HC9UPFLaq

[madinmaryland]

27. The should have been arrested for indecent exposure. Nt

[The Magistrate]

28. Hail To The Chief, Sir! A Good Man Who Knows How To Keep The Peace

He is absolutely right:

"These characters and those who support them should be ashamed of themselves."

[n2doc]

29. Hand them enlistment papers

They are young enough. The Recruiters should have followed them around.

[msanthrope]

33. So we can give them more guns??? So they can go terrorize

people overseas? I get your point, but when you stop to think about it, these are exactly the type of numbnuts we don't need to represent America abroad.

These are the type of morans who should be sentenced to dig ditches for the benefit of others.

[n2doc]

35. I'm thinking a good drill sergeant would work that crap out of them

But maybe not. Didn't work for McVeigh. If we had a hot war going I suspect these numbnuts would angle for canteen duty.

[msanthrope]

37. Yeah...ever watch "Full Metal Jacket?" nt

[wild bird]

44. These 2 jerks probably wouldn't have lasted 1 day with the D.I.

I had in 65 at MCRD Parris Island.
He was one tough bastard.

Semper Fi.

[upaloopa]

53. They might learn what self defense with an automatic rifle

is really all about.

[rl6214]

59. They weren't carrying automatic weapons.

[upaloopa]

69. ok semi auto single fire what ever gets you off my back

geeez
In Vietnam my rifle could do all three

[rl6214]

77. Wasn't aware that pointing out a fact was on your back

Geez, we all weren't so lucky to have your Vietnam weapons.

With that said, I do thank you, a vet for your service.

[upaloopa]

81. one rifle three modes

it could be single ly fired, or semi auto or clicked to full auto.
Sorry to be so grumpy other threads pissed me off today not your fault my fault my apologies

[rl6214]

92. Not. A problem

I wish everyone around here was as gracious as you. Best to you.

[wild bird]

86. When I first arrived in Vietnam in early 67,

I was issued the M-14, it wasn't until Jan. 68 that I was issued the M-16, hated the damn thing, wanted my M-14 back.

[upaloopa]

93. same here for me it was July 67

[wild bird]

94. We were both in country at the same time, how cool.

Mike Company
3/26 Marine Regiment
Khe Sahn.
Quang Tri Province.

[upaloopa]

96. me 147th LEM Co U S Army

I was in a special unit of radar repairmen. We were on call to go anywhere in country we were needed. Based in Saigon the Long Binh

[wild bird]

97. Glad ya made it home safely bro.

[upaloopa]

102. and glad you did

[Yippy]

136. Need Help

Hello

My name is David Anthony Catania.
I am from Hammond, Louisiana.
I joined the Army June 2, 1969 and served through February 4, 1972.
I went to basic training at Fort Polk, LA.
I went to AIT at Redstone Arsenal, AL & Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
My MOS was 34G20 Radar Repairman.
My serial number is RA 15903812.
I was sent to serve to the 78th LEM Panzer Kaserne Boeblingen Germany.

NONE of my military records reflect my boot on the ground in Vietnam.

I need a buddy letter placing me at 147th LEM Long Binh for 60 days.

I hope you can help.

If not, please tell me the name of the First Sergeant and Company Commander so I can ask them for documentation.

Thanking you in advance.

David Catania
985-778-5025 (cell)

[GP6971]

137. You probably won't get a response.

David,

The member you replied to as well as the author of the thread haven't posted on DU since Nov of 2016. DU got hacked on election day 2016 and they haven't been back.

[1awake]

30. and.... the police will lose this one if it goes anywhere.

I own several weapons, and think these guys and one's like them are pieces of shit. Putting the issue of ar15's aside... what possible reason would they need one especially given the fact they both had handguns strapped to their sides. Maybe there should be an IQ test of some kind.

[msanthrope]

38. No. They won't. In order to win a tort, you have to show an injury. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. They thought they needed AR-15s for self-defense at a farmers' market??

This suggests that these are very, very cowardly, frightened people. If a guy can't go out to a farmers' market to buy some fresh sweet corn and a sack of zucchinis without arming himself to the teeth he is a very sad, pathetic, pathologically fearful person. If somebody lobbed an overripe tomato at one of those losers he'd probably wet himself.

[Liberal Veteran]

51. Perhaps they saw some really large zucchini and though "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"?

[Jerry442]

40. Three Cheers to Capt. Flynn!

It's high time we got the message out, preferably through a high-profile legal proceeding, that while someone has the right to bear arms, no one ever has the right to engage in menacing behavior.

If you think there's nothing menacing about people walking around with assault weapons in a farmer's market, you've been hitting the kool-aid pretty hard.

[Paladin]

41. Public intimidation, pure and simple.

Self-defense had nothing to do with it---as usual, with open-carry displays like this.

[freshwest]

113. +1,000.

[dem in texas]

45. New way to shop at the Farmers Market - Bam!

Cantaloupes too ripe, bam! Peaches too firm, bam! Prices too high. bam!

[Buns_of_Fire]

122. Well, Euell Gibbons DID write "Stalking the Wild Asparagus"

Although I believe he preferred using a fly rod -- hence the term "casting asparagus."

Some of the larger vegetables CAN be vicious when cornered, so prudence usually dictates a backup 20-gauge shotgun (00 buck can bring down even the biggest -- even the supposedly benign summer squash).

[rurallib]

47. I would consider someone acting like that a potential George Zimmerman

and brandishing weapons like that is threatening.

[Maedhros]

50. Two "men?"

You give them too much credit. You mean "two petulant children."

[Mapletonian]

54. I would suggest this alternative to the gun toters---

[Aviation Pro]

56. Fucking idiots...

...I suggest that these two douchebags ruck the fuck up, sign a fucking Ranger contract and let's see how long they fucking last before they fucking quit.

Fucking posing waste of zygotes.

[GReedDiamond]

108. I abso-fucking-lutely, totally fucking agree with...

...every fucking thing you fucking posted.

[Squinch]

57. I'm sorry, I know there are people of good will on the gun rights side of the argument,

but seriously, these guys are obviously overcompensating for a lack.

[PatrynXX]

58. Uh course if they didn't have guns

and were protesting without guns they'd be bloodied up by now so they should consider themselves um treated far better than those without guns

[Maedhros]

60. A rifle is a tool, and a damned dangerous one.

You don't take it out of the tool box unless you intend to use it.

A rifle is not an accessory for making political fashion statements.

[Hoyt]

62. To me, it's a personal affront just like waving a confederate or nazi flag.

Gun lovers need to control their own, or let someone in authority do it.

[madaboutharry]

64. Appleton, Wisconsin....

The birthplace and burial place of Senator Joe McCarthy. Appleton is also the national headquarters of The John Birch Society.

It must be something in the air.

I should add that Appleton has a great Japanese restaurant on College Avenue, near Lawrence University, called Katsu-Ya.

[Jenoch]

105. Don't forget, Appleton was also the home of Harry Houdini.

[madaboutharry]

112. That's right.

There is a large section of the local museum dedicated to his life.

[Jenoch]

117. I'm such a dork. I did a report on Houdini

in the 6th grade and I still remember that. That, and his birth name was Erich Weiss. (I used to live in Green Bay too.)

[DinahMoeHum]

66. Two men with teeny weenie problems

n/t

[quinnox]

67. Well done to the Wisconsin Police, they did the right thing

If I saw someone carrying a rifle around in a public place like a shopping center or a business or just walking down a downtown sidewalk, I would be on the phone to 9-11 pronto. I have no idea if this is a psycho about to commence a killing spree, or what. I would expect the cops to arrive and handle it as soon as possible, with guns drawn if they felt it was appropriate or necessary.

[etherealtruth]

107. Seriously!

What are thinking people supposed to do? I will call the police.

As "they" stated regarding "stand your ground" ... one doesn't actually have to be threatened, one just needs to believe they are threatened. If I see some jack ass toting a gun, damn straight I will feel threatened (since I am not a gun psycho, my option will be to call the authorities)

[gulliver]

71. We need these twits to just keep doing what they are doing.

People hate people who own AR-15s and other perv weapons. It's happening. Already you can bet a bunch of these twits have been fired, have lost their jobs, or have had their children shunned and mocked by the children of normal people. It's over.

I sure am glad the cops didn't accidentally pop a few rounds into back sides of these two wackos. I would hate to see the cops get in trouble.

[billh58]

82. They do make a great

case for the absolute need for more stringent gun control measures in this country.

[gopiscrap]

72. Fucking gun nut assholes

[joeybee12]

78. Nothing says farm fresh produce like yahoos and flying bullets...nt

[life long demo]

85. If I wanted to be around guns I would go to a shooting range.

I don't want to be around guns. I don't like them. They scare me. Don't I have a constitutional right to be in a farmers market or dept. store and not see a guy carrying a gun?

[wild bird]

91. Sadly, no, you don't. nt.

[99Forever]

90. Gun humpers....

... asshats, one and all.

[otohara]

95. UPDATE - No Charges, NADA - They May Sue

Branstrom said it was too early to discuss whether he and Bauman plan to sue over the their arrests, but he said he had made public records requests of 911 calls and the officers' dash-cam videos.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/rifles-near-appleton-farmers-market-lead-to-police-debate-b9996773z1-223514231.html

[wild bird]

98. This is exactly what I said up thread.

These so called open carry asshats are known to do this, they'll walk around flaunting their guns daring cops to stop and harass them, all the while, filming the confrontation, that they started in the first place, in the hope of filing a lawsuit against the city and police.

Asshattery in the first degree.

[otohara]

110. I Think We Only Have Conceal Carry

I don't know which is more frightening.
I don't worry about intruders as much as the paranoid guy on the street with a gun under his jacket.

[wild bird]

115. Unfortunately,

Wisconsin is now an open carry state.

Open Carry[edit source]

Open carry is legal anywhere concealed carry is legal, is legal for all adults (18+) who are not prohibited from possession, and does not require a license unless the citizen is in a taxpayer-owned building or within 1000' from the edge of a school property (_and_ not on private property).[6]

In the past, some jurisdictions have tried to prosecute open-carry by equating the open carry of handguns with disorderly conduct. On April 20, 2009 the Wisconsin Attorney General's office released a memorandum to all law enforcement agencies stating that mere open carry of a firearm was not disorderly conduct, and instructed both law enforcement and the district attorneys to cease this practice.

In 2011 a subsection was added to the Disorderly Conduct statute (947.01 [7]) reading "Unless other facts and circumstances that indicate a criminal or malicious intent on the part of the person apply, a person is not in violation of, and may not be charged with a violation of, this section for loading, carrying, or going armed with a firearm, without regard to whether the firearm is loaded or is concealed or openly carried." This codified open carry, ending any debate as to its legality.

Loading, or having a loaded, uncased handgun inside a vehicle was legalized beginning November 1, 2011.[8] The firearm must not be "hidden from ordinary observation" while inside the vehicle unless the citizen has a license.[9]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Wisconsin#Open_Carry

Those 2 bolded paragraphs are the reason these 2 fucking idiots couldn't be cited for disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace.

But, just because it's legal doesn't make it smart or moral.
This kind of shit gives sane gun owners a bad name.

[ileus]

99. I would think under most circumstances a sidearm would be all that's necessary.

Unless there was some kind of major event the rifles are overkill.

For your normal run of the mill day a sidearm should be enough...

[IveWornAHundredPants]

100. Yes, normally at the small town farmer's market

a sidearm is all that you need. You're quite right, quite right.

(backs away slowly)

[Dawson Leery]

101. The Zimmerman mentality.

They feel entitled to do anything they want. They hurt the cause of firearm ownership rights.

[wild bird]

103. Yes they do. nt.

[0rganism]

104. had they been wandering around naked, they'd be in prison right now

because, ya know, that kind of thing is DANGEROUS TO OUR SOCIETY, dammit!

[Jenoch]

106. Open carry has been legal in Wisconsin for many years.

Wisconsin has had legal conceal-carry for just a short time.

These guys were open carrying because they could. It's a stupid thing to do and does not help the RKBA cause.

[Skittles]

114. cowards

[Initech]

118. Hey gun nuts!!! Your second amendment rights are not under attack! It's all the other ones!

[raccoon]

120. Wonder what would have happened if these guys had been non-white. nt

[Buns_of_Fire]

123. I have the RIGHT to walk up to Mike Tyson and call him an asshole, too.

But that doesn't mean it's a terribly good idea.

[Scurrilous]

125. Idiots. n/t

[pansypoo53219]

127. WERE THEIR TOYS/PENIS ENHANCEMENTS CONFISCATED?

shit. need pic of their packages to post w/ the size of their guns.

[jtuck004]

128. Were they cited for...Disturbing the Peas? n/t

[Poiuyt]

129. What's really stupid is that toy guns are outlawed at this market, but real guns are okay

I'm not joking about this.

[UTUSN]

133. Wish I could Rec 1000s. In light of today's gun violence, kicking this O.P.

My local community was the target of gun goons performing this attention-whore provocateur STUNT a couple of months ago, and the local wingnut media drooled all over them for "merely" acting out their "constitutional rights." They gloried in humiliating the local police who arrested the goon.

Ever since I have told all the officers eating at the local restaurants that I concretely, fully supported them during the STUNTS. I will be sure to send this item about how law enforcement in another state reacted EXACTLY THE SAME as police and how they (over there) “shot down” the gun nuts’ arguments about the 2nd Amendment and how everybody is supposed to assume that armed goons are automatically “good” guys.