Monday, June 09, 2008

Open Carry in Wisconsin?

Apparently the 'open-carry' idea is gaining traction nationally.

For years, Kevin Jensen carried a pistol everywhere he went, tucked in a shoulder holster beneath his clothes.

In hot weather the holster was almost unbearable. Pressed against his skin, the firearm was heavy and uncomfortable. Hiding the weapon made Jensen feel like a criminal.

Then one evening he stumbled across a site that urged gun owners to do something revolutionary: Carry your gun openly for the world to see as you go about your business.
In most states there's no law against that.

As a matter of fact, there's no law against it in Wisconsin, either. And there IS a Constitutional Amendment (the 25th) which would seem to bless open carry.

But there IS a caveat--it is the practice of the Milwaukee police department to arrest folks who 'open-carry,' and the DA has charged such folks with Disorderly Conduct under an interpretation of the ordinance which is (to say the least) rather expansive.

See Patrick's blog for further discussion.

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