While I'm not a fan of the cops operating outside the law on this scenario.......these guys are idiots. While they were within their rights to be doing this, it's also fuel to the fire so that anti's will take action to change the laws. There is no legit purpose to carry an AR in public while inside a city for self defense. To do so simply because your trying to make a statement is ridiculous and sure to draw others to take action to prevent it from happening. If I was an anti I'd be encouraging all of my other anti friends to do this to draw attention to the law and force people to take action. It doesn't help the pro 2nd ammendment cause at all.
Wouldn't the farmers market be private property? You do not have the right to open carry on someone else's property if they are opposed to it. These guys are testing the limits of common sense. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Majority of all the famers market around my area are all public land. Usually they are at the village hall or town squares.
Heading to or inside; two different things? IMO (I am a resident of Appleton and frequent the farmers market downtown on Saturday mornings) they were well within their rights. Yes "IF" I would have seen them @ the market I would have most likely left. They would have affected my feeling of security in society and would not want to put the people I am with in a "potiential situation"
Any gun openly carried in the general public will look scary. It will just incite fear and unease in the public.
Because the motives are questioned. A rifle of any sort being open carried in a public place arises suspicion to motive. Rifles are not used for personal protection in this setting. Home, yes. Vehicle, maybe, but not walking down the street. Logical people will guestion motive. Now, if they are in a case, one would assume they have a legitimate motive. Selling, transport or whatever. A pistol is a different animal all together. It is designed for personal protection and most would not question it's motive if holstered. Unholster the weapon and there will be plenty of suspicion to motive. I'm not hanging around people I don't know in a public setting with unholstered weapons that I do not know. PERIOD Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Now, if they're in an area where there is reasonable reason to have such a weapon, I would not question said motives. Such as a gun range, gun store, in the field, etc. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
So because they do not appear the same or look trustworthy they can be subject to harassment from the police?
So if they were say walking to the gun store, instead of the farmers market you wouldn't be suspicious and would not feel the need for the police to draw down on them and handcuff them?
This was not harrasment. They were reacting to a disturbance that had possible extreme consequences. Maybe they crossed a line but they did so on the side of caution and imo, did their job on this one. Put yourself in their shoes. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Thid is like yelling fire in a crowded theatre. Yes you have freedom of speech but you can't insight a riot. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
If I saw 2 dudes walking through downtown with AR-15's I would leave the area immediately rather than stupidly risk my well being by ASSUMING they have good intensions. There is no good reason to be carrying that type of weapon in that type of setting. So, of course it will get a reaction out of people.
