Men carrying rifles to farmers market draw police, debate--Appleton, WI

[digonswine]

"Two men heading to Appleton's downtown farmers market with AR-15 rifles slung over their shoulders and handguns in holsters swiftly attracted the attention of police officers last weekend.

Now, they're attracting attention across the Internet, with some gun rights advocates expressing outrage that the pair were held at gunpoint and handcuffed, while others voice frustration at what they consider a foolish and dangerous stunt.

The men, Charles Branstrom, 27, and Ross Bauman, 22, ultimately were released without tickets or charges."

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

Clearly, these guys are complete fuckwits. If I were an opponent of gun control, I would distance myself quickly from people like this.

I listened to a WPR(Wisc. Public Radio) show that discussed this. The gun guy thought it was ridiculous to judge the motives of these two sensible fellows. He did say it was not intended to "cop-bait." I, personally, cannot think of a good reason to take open rifles to a farmers market in Appleton, WI--an hour away from me.

The police probably made poor choices, though.

[mike_c]

1. the only reason they do it is because they can, and want to rub peoples noses in that....

Unless they were genuinely fearful for their safety, this was just a stunt to attract attention and intimidate the peace.

[digonswine]

2. Yeah pretty much-

I have no doubt that there would never have been an incident.
They are still people with whom I feel I could never find common ground on much.
They did NOT have fear. They had recording equipment ready.
I live around here--a farmers market in Appleton is about as safe as it gets.
They are attention-seeking young men and they got what they wanted. And here I am talking about them.

[rdharma]

3. Clearly, these guys are complete fuckwits.

That pretty much sums it up.

[digonswine]

5. Yup-

I don't know one sensible(to me, at least) person that wants to do things like this.

I want to support the 2nd amendment, but the ones who actually carry freak me out.

[on point]

4. Call the police each and every time people brandish weapons

This needs to go away

Real legitimate reasons to carry ( going to gun shop show), hunter on way to hunting etc, should carried with trigger locks required so everyone knows they aren't on their way to the next massacre

[rdharma]

7. Yup! I will do it!

Haven't seen any such idiots in my area yet..... but ........

[digonswine]

8. I don't know-

It's not like the police always have the best reaction, either.

I would like it to be socially unacceptable to behave in this way. I think it is to most people.

We(WI) used to have rules about transporting weapons. They needed to be in a case.

The gun guy on WPR said that some poor soul was pulled over for carrying his rifle on his bicycle, from his house to the local gun range. The horrors!

Again, those who support these activities seem to see this shit as an absolute right w/o sensible regulation.

In fact, there was a fellow who owned guns and hunted, etc, that called in and stated that he thought that these gun-toting fellows gave responsible gun-owners a bad name.

The "guest" said that this was a perfect opportunity to dismiss responsible gun owners that deign to judge those that carry in a way that they disagree with.

Apparently-we are just being judgmental and how dare we to find fault. It is quite funny, really.

The convo is here

http://www.wpr.org/listen/327371

[rdharma]

9. I will report these gun brandishing nutjobs any time I see them!

I'm not going to report folks obviously going to the shooting range or hunting. But I've got a problem with these a-holes who like to display their gatts in public when there is no need for that other than intimidation.

Fug 'em!

[digonswine]

10. At the same time--

they are looking for that attention.
I don't know the answer.
I would like to think that they will shrink into obscurity. Their claws seem to hold fast, though.
They need side-lining until they have no voice.

[rdharma]

11. The answer is to spank their asses!

Shame them, make them feel like the fools they are, and punish them if needed.

Menacing is menacing. This isn't Somalia.

Notify the police each and every time you see one of these jerks prancing around with a firearm in public!

I know I will!

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Two fruits that no farmer could grow.

Their parents did a fine job, though.

[SoutherDem]

12. Perhaps the citizens of Wisconsin need to change the law, or

if open carry causes such a disturbance perhaps owners of businesses should post no weapons allowed. I live in an open carry state and the law states any private property owner has the right to post restrictions to the law on their property.
Living in an open carry state I have seen only a few people choose to open carry or restrict weapons from their property but then again the few times someone did choose to open carry no one called the police nor did the police treat it as a major situation either.

[digonswine]

13. We both know we can't just change the law-

I would like to. I have seen no people open-carry but I do not live in a populated area.
It does appear that the police overreacted.
This happened at a farmers market-I do not believe it is a private area.
My point was more the mentality of the carriers.

[Hoyt]

14. Well it's against the law to carry my machete like that, yet yahoos can carry

guns. That's screwed up.

[digonswine]

15. And I would bet-

that you would feel no need to carry a machete to a farm market in the first place.