Posted on 09/21/2010 7:23:16 PM PDT by marktwain
MADISON, Wis. -- Culver's Corp. is evaluating the possible need for a policy addressing handguns in its restaurants.
The issue came to light after an incident at the East Towne Culver's on Saturday evening.
Five members of the open-carry advocacy group, Wisconsin Carry, met to eat dinner and socialize. The men were all legally openly carrying firearms.
"They started to notice a police presence was gathering around the building so they suspected that somebody had called the police regarding them because they had firearms," said Auric Gold, the group's secretary.
Madison police confirmed that a call was placed to them by a concerned woman who had seen the men in the restaurant.
"She sees some of these people with guns on their hips, and she's concerned enough to call us saying she feels that if she doesn't call and something horrible happens, she would feel terrible that she didn't call," said Joel DeSpain, Madison Police Department spokesman. "She said they weren't doing anything but she thinks we should check it out."
Police responded to the call by approaching the men with the complaint and asking to see identification, WISC-TV reported.
"These individuals were not given any choice; they were simply told they have to provide their ID or they'll be cited for refusal to do it -- for obstruction," said Gold.
"Two of the individuals would not produce identification, saying they didn't need to because they're law-abiding citizens," said DeSpain. "The officers said, 'That's probably the case but we'd like to check it out.'"
The two men who refused to provide identification were handcuffed, ticketed for obstruction of justice and searched until identification was found, police said.
Once police knew they were not felons, their guns were returned.
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Members of the group contend they were not trying to set up police, even though some members were wearing wires to record any such confrontation, WISC-TV reported.
"They didn't come out there with the intention of challenging the law," said Gold. "They didn't come out there with the intention of having an encounter with police. They came out to have a meal, to get to know each other and to socialize. It's as simple as that."
Group members said they believe police might be trying to set them up.
DeSpain said police would not have known the men were having dinner if they hadn't received a complaint.
DeSpain said the group walked around the Capitol and down State Street armed late last winter and had no problems with police. He said there were no complaints.
"If you're a law-abiding citizen, certainly the law in this state is that you can have open carry," said DeSpain. "It's your Second Amendment right and we respect that. But we still need to find out what people are doing when they walk around with guns on their hips because people do get concerned."
Wisconsin Carry said it has its legal counsel looking into whether rights were violated over the weekend. Gold said it would be up to individuals whether or not they pursued legal action on their own.
One man who received a citation for obstruction of justice recently won a settlement from the city of Racine and Racine Police Department for a similar incident.
Madison police said they are also re-evaluating the citations issued on Saturday. Police said the citations could possibly be changed to disorderly conduct.
Culver's Corp. is not making a formal statement regarding the incident, only saying that it's now looking into the possibility of crafting a policy addressing the issue.
Culver's legal counsel is consulting with the Wisconsin Restaurant Association on what action to take.
Culver's said it supports a person's Second Amendment rights and is not taking sides on the issue. However, Culver's said it plans to have a policy addressing the issue in the next few weeks.
Which in no small part explains the left’s psychotic opposition to an Armed Citizenry.
A couple of decades back, there was a minor fender-bender auto accident across the street from the Tucson gas station where I was filling up my gas tank and knocking off a cold Pepsi in the noonday sun. First thing I heard was the crash, then the sound of a car horn stuck on. I shut off the gas and went across the street to see if anyone was hurt.
I was carrying a 9mm Browning GP at the time, in a crossdraw belt holster on my right side. A car had plowed into a pickup truck, and the auto driver had stepped out, wearing a .38 revolver on his belt. The pickup driver had smacked his head against the steering wheel and was bleeding slightly, and it was his horn that was stuck on. When we helped him out from behind the wheel, I noticed he had a .45 Auto tucked in his Levis pocket.
Helpfully, the gas station attendent had come over with a first-aid kit and told us he'd called for police and an ambulance. Yep, he had a shooter too, a very nice looking little nickle-plated Walther, a PP or PPK.
We got the truck's hood open and pulled the battery cable, shutting off the noisy horn. When the cops arrived, they too had handguns on. By this point, I was expecting about everyone in Tucson was carrying. If there was anyone who wasn't, it may have been the ambukance crew, though I'd hardly have been surprised if there'd been a derringer or snubby .22 tucked away in a boot or pocket there too.
Just a routine auto fender-bender, with everyone involved, participants, witnesses, responders- all carrying. And polite as all get out, taking care of things and people in their course.
Mr. Robert A. Heinlein said it best: An armed society is a polite society....
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