Posted on 09/13/2013 5:11:48 PM PDT by marktwain
Earlier this week, a video was posted on YouTube which demonstrated how Appleton, Wisconsin, police violated the rights of two men who were openly carrying AR-15s, which is legal in the state of Wisconsin.
The two men were first held at gunpoint, then handcuffed and placed in the back of a squad car while the officers “investigated” the incident, only to find that the men had not broken any laws and there was no clear evidence to charge them with any crime.
Apparently, the police department had received three separate calls because the men were carrying “assault rifles” across their backs as they walked down the street.
The officer that made first initial contact asked the men what they’re carrying. When one of the men replied with the obvious, “guns,” the officer then asked what kind of guns. The man tells the officer that they are carrying ARs as well as concealed pistols. “Real AR’s? the officer asked, failing to explain what he considers a “real” AR. Nonetheless the officer seemed a little more than irritated that the men chose to exercise their Second Amendment rights in such a manner.
The officer can be heard telling the other officers that he will “cover them” while the investigation continues. The officer then told the men, “I don’t understand what’s going on, but you’re both going back to the precinct.”
The men’s firearms were taken and the men were eventually put into handcuffs and placed in the back of the police car. At that point, an officer realized that one of the men had a video camera around his neck. The officer takes the video camera and attempts to turn it off.
Only what the officer didn’t realize is that only the video was shut off while the audio continued to record as the officers searched through the men’s belongings and scrambled to find a crime to charge them with.
The officer initially told the men that they were being investigated for a possible disorderly conduct, explaining that there is a “fine line” in which one can exercise their right to open carry.
However, the men were not acting in an alarming or threatening manner. They were simply walking down the street with AR-15s slung across their backs. And, in fact, the Appleton Police Department’s own website explains that simply openly carrying a firearm is not grounds to be charged with disorderly conduct.
According to the department’s website, “Unless the facts and circumstances indicate a malicious or criminal intent, a person may not be charged with an ordinance or criminal offense of disorderly conduct for going armed with a concealed or openly carried firearm.”
The officers then ran the men’s IDs, concealed carry permits and even the serial numbers on their guns, which one admitted were “good firearms.” But the officers didn’t come up with a single citation that they could issue.
About halfway through the video, unbeknown to the officers that the audio was still recording, one of the officers stated, “Oh, this is going to be a lawsuit.”
At one point, an officer even referred to a similar incident from 2011 in which five men were illegally detained after openly carrying firearms in a Madison restaurant. The men filed a federal lawsuit against the city as well as the officers involved and won, leaving the city to pay the men $10,000.
There have been no reports on whether or not a suit will be filed against the officers in Appleton who detained the men for about 40 minutes before apologizing and sending them on their way.
We need to fight for our rights but I just don’t think this is the way. Too easy for something to go wrong or a cop to realize dead people don’t sue.
Suing is the legally defined path to behavior modification.
The responses of the victims seem a bit “flip”. Need to lose that.
it’s the only way to get cops and others desensitized to people legally carrying firearms. it has to be recorded because it catches cops knowing they are violating people’s rights.
these cops are going to need people on their side in the future.
Restoring the Constitution will not be easy.
Armed people intrinsicly have a sense of independence, power and freedom.
We cannot get there by allowing police to deny us rights that are lawfully ours.
It does not take very many actions like this one to educate the police.
We have had to do it in Arizona, now we have a modicum of restoration of the right to keep and bear arms.
It can happen in the rest of the country.
It is happening. This is part of it.
How do you suggest we fight for our rights?
I really don’t consider it a fight if it doesn’t get at least a bit messy!!!
People who are afraid to exercise their rights don’t have them.
Secretly Monitor Cop Stops With New ACLU App
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/07/monitor-police-app/
It won’t take many events like this to get someone shot. In todays climate its more likely to result in laws to ban open carry than anything else.
Well first we should start by insulting those who disagree with this tactic.
“It won’t take many events like this to get someone shot. In todays climate its more likely to result in laws to ban open carry than anything else.”
You are welcome to your opinion.
I think the opposite will happen, just as it has happened with the open carry of pistols.
I am done backing up.
We have momentum. We need to keep moving forward.
“I am done backing up.”
So you imply I am a coward because I think this tactic is foolish. bite me
“So you imply I am a coward because I think this tactic is foolish. bite me”
No need to put words in my mouth. I merely stated a personal policy.
Yes so you did. Full of implications and all.
Its foolish and will backfire and result in more anti-gun laws.
Local conditions vary. I would not recommend this in Massachusetts, at least not at this time.
I believe it can work in Wisconsin and Texas, Arizona, a number of states. It has already worked well in Michigan.
The way rights are denied is letting the government illegally harass citizens until they conform....if you don't stand up to them and use it you lose it. Two legislators in Colorado are without a job because they voted for more "Anti Gun Laws". And Colorado is a red state. Those officers should be disciplined and trained so they will not harass citizens in the future!!!
“Those officers should be disciplined and trained so they will not harass citizens in the future!!! “
Since the city has already been successfully sued I doubt it will have the desired effect.
Perhaps I just have talked to too many officers here in Tampa who are looking for an excuse to shoot someone.
Perhaps I just have talked to too many officers here in Tampa who are looking for an excuse to shoot someone....Then you, as a patriot (?) need to ensure those cops get fired. Any way you can. Cops are not a disease that kills you.
Really.....that's an entirely different and much larger problem. These so called peace officers need to be fired! It sure as hell isn't a good reason to surrender one's 2nd amendment rights.
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