Posted on 09/24/2010 10:57:39 AM PDT by marktwain
Madison, Wisconsin --(Ammoland.com)- Please donate to Wisconsin Carry, Inc’s efforts in bringing suits against the City of Madison, Madison Police, Police Chief, and anyone else culpable (ICarry is making assumptions as to whom the defendants may be).
This is for the 5 men arrested for open carrying, minding their own business. They were NOT staging anything or trying to get arrested. Some of these men are known to us personally, and we know their intentions were nothing more than to meet with one another, share a meal and conversation, and be able to exercise their fundamental right to bear arms. These open carry meet-ups are happening everywhere, and this one was no different.
Someone called the police to inquire as to whether or not what they were doing (simply openly carrying pistols) is legal. Instead of informing the caller that it is, and asking the caller if anything else seems out of place, Madison PD sent 8 officers there to harass, intimidate, and violate many rights of the citizens.
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. has tried to solve this diplomatically, but Madison Police Chief Noble Wray has simply declared all-out war by charging all 5 men with disorderly conduct, despite the Wisconsin Attorney General stating that open carry is not disorderly conduct and should not be prosecuted!
Separately and privately, to no one else’s knowledge, ICarry.org contacted Madison Police Chief Wray. We had a good conversation with him, and tried our best to make progress to deescalate this situation and get the police and law-abiding gun owners back on the same page. Chief Wray failed to mention his decision to charge all 5 men with disorderly conduct. Needless to say, we are very disappointed by this reaction of his, and we look forward to the day in court everyone will have.
We are calling on the entire country – particularly the grassroots gun rights groups like Wisconsin Carry and ICarry.org who really make the difference these days for support in this. Wisconsin is a most pivotal piece in the countrywide Right to Carry movement. Wisconsin is one of only 2 states left with completely concealed carry prohibition. As such, Open Carry has grown into a sensational movement unlike anywhere else in the nation.
All attempts will be made to transform Wisconsin into a state where law-abiding can choose which method to carry - open or concealed - based on what suits their needs and personal preferences. All attempts will be made to see this choice be a real right – no permit or license required – like Alaska, Vermont, and now Arizona.
Wisconsin can go from red to green on the Right to Carry map in one sure step after the upcoming election.
ICarry.org has witnessed countless open carry events – picnics, litter pickups, food drives, rallies, and simple casual get-togethers. These events are very spontaneous – anyone can decide to start one somewhere and people from nearby show up. Through these events, patriotic supporters of the right to bear arms have gotten to know one another, shared personal experiences, shared knowledge and education, comradery, and hopes.
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. has taken the lead to promote the safe and lawful exercise of rights for self-defense, educating the public, and staunch defense of open carry in Wisconsin. Through numerous lawsuits challenging things like the unconstitutional “gun-free school zones” relic law in Wisconsin, to blatant violations of an individual’s rights, they have proven themselves to be an organization of action – not of words or politics.
ICarry.org considers Wisconsin Carry, Inc. to be one of the finest firearms rights organizations in the country. We consider ourselves blessed to work in the same state as them, assist them when possible, and simply share the Wisconsin Open Carry experience with them.
Please help us take the Wisconsin example beyond the border to the many states that need carry law reform. The right to carry is sweeping the nation, and the adamant defense of that right by organizations like Wisconsin Carry is creating the possibility for countrywide recognition of the fundamental right of peaceable citizens to bear arms – no questions asked.
Please help ICarry.org raise $5,000 for Wisconsin Carry’s lawsuit and injunction against the City of Madison today. It will make a difference for all states!
www.icarry.org/donate.html
(You can view the live, to-the-second status of the fundraiser on the left side of the ICarry.org homepage. You can list your name if you create an account, or choose to be anonymous if you donate!)
About: ICarry.org, a website devoted to to bringing concealed carry to Illinois and Wisconsin – the only two states without it.
Yes there is.
Good luck finding a good lawyer that will not bail on you because of what this would do to his/her career.
ALso the thousands and thousands of dollars you will spend on the case - the municipality has endless pockets compared to you.
Further the judge could rule in your favor but only give a small restitution award to you. You’re not guaranteed to get what you sue for. Judge could say, yes they were wrong, but you only get $50 bucks. That would result in the police not changing their policies. They’d just say take us to court. Spend thousands and waste years to get a verdict in your favor and $50 bucks. Meanwhile the practice of arresting on disorderly will continue.
Ummm, not to pic nits or anything, but if 5 unrelated males get together for lunch in a restaurant . . . it is intentional. Women have been known to do the same thing. The only difference is while there men don't all go to the bathroom in a group.
>Section 1983 action for official oppression - pretty open-and-shut, seems to me...
They could also pull this into the federal arena:
US CODE, TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 13, § 241 — Conspiracy against rights
If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or
If two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so secured—
They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
That's the beauty of the civil rights lawsuit. The tyrants can't "drop" it unilaterally. They may be able settle, but only on terms agreeable to those on the other side (revised policiing procedures acceptable to the arrestees, etc.).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.