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Open-carry picnic set at Glenwood City
[font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]By Chuck Rupnow [/font]
Leader-Telegram staff
GLENWOOD CITY - Glenwood City Police Chief Robert Darwin said he's not overly concerned about hundreds of people coming to the St. Croix County Fairgrounds on Aug. 23 armed with loaded sidearms.
"I don't have a problem with what they want to do," he said. "They have the lawful right to do that.
"My concern is how the general public will respond," Darwin said Wednesday. "I hope they will respect it, since it is lawful. The people coming to this are not the kind of people we need to worry about."
Dave "Ole" Olson said he and his wife, Annette, organized the "Open Carry Picnic" from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the fairground primarily to inform people of their Second Amendment right to openly carry sidearms.
He plans to hold another event in a few months in Hudson related to First- and Second-Amendment rights, with a nationally-recognized guest speaker.
"This is important to me because it has to do with our liberties," he said. "Our passion is liberty and freedom. In my thinking, the country is going in the wrong direction and people need to know that they have the right to carry a gun."
Olson said the effort is not sponsored by any group, and said he is spending about $2,000 of his own money for food to handle about 400 people, including barbecue beef sandwiches, beans, coleslaw and other food items.
The event is open to the public. A freewill offering will help cover the costs, and people are encouraged to bring a dish to pass. Sidearms are not required to attend.
"The purpose of this is, for the general public and the gun owners alike, education," he said. "I can't believe the number of people who don't know the law."
Similar events have been held at other locations in the state, including Onalaska and last weekend in Green Bay.
Firearms may be loaded but must be holstered at all times at the site. Only people 18 or older may possess a firearm, and no long guns or alcohol will be permitted at the site.
Olson said he actually is not an advocate for the open carry law,
"I am not an advocate of open carry for several reasons; one being that it does give a certain discomfort level to some people," said Olson, a construction contractor.
Olson has invited numerous legislators and officials, including St. Croix County Sheriff Dennis Hillstead.
"He did extend an invitation for me to stop by, but I'm not sure if I will or not," Hillstead said. "I believe it is a way for people to test municipal ordinances against what the state law is."
Chief Darwin said Glenwood City's ordinance regarding handgun possession was "basically unenforceable" based on an April 20 decision by state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.
Darwin said people were receiving disorderly conduct citations for carrying a weapon, but the law states there must be extenuating circumstances or unlawful acts along with carrying the weapon.
Darwin said there will not be a great police presence, in part because budget cuts reduced the police department from three full-time and four part-time officers to only two full-time officers.
"I don't anticipate any problems," he said. "After all, these are the people who came and told us about what they plan to do."
Dick Sullwold, president of the St. Croix County Fair Board, said Wednesday that he had no issues with renting out a portion of the fairgrounds for the event.
"As for me renting out the facilities, I would do it for most any event," he said, adding that it will cost $150 for an outdoor event or $200 if the event is held inside a building on the grounds because of inclement weather.
Rupnow can be reached at 830-5831,
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news.asp?id=BKS7JU5R0B2
Open-carry picnic set at Glenwood City
[font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]By Chuck Rupnow [/font]
Leader-Telegram staff
GLENWOOD CITY - Glenwood City Police Chief Robert Darwin said he's not overly concerned about hundreds of people coming to the St. Croix County Fairgrounds on Aug. 23 armed with loaded sidearms.
"I don't have a problem with what they want to do," he said. "They have the lawful right to do that.
"My concern is how the general public will respond," Darwin said Wednesday. "I hope they will respect it, since it is lawful. The people coming to this are not the kind of people we need to worry about."
Dave "Ole" Olson said he and his wife, Annette, organized the "Open Carry Picnic" from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the fairground primarily to inform people of their Second Amendment right to openly carry sidearms.
He plans to hold another event in a few months in Hudson related to First- and Second-Amendment rights, with a nationally-recognized guest speaker.
"This is important to me because it has to do with our liberties," he said. "Our passion is liberty and freedom. In my thinking, the country is going in the wrong direction and people need to know that they have the right to carry a gun."
Olson said the effort is not sponsored by any group, and said he is spending about $2,000 of his own money for food to handle about 400 people, including barbecue beef sandwiches, beans, coleslaw and other food items.
The event is open to the public. A freewill offering will help cover the costs, and people are encouraged to bring a dish to pass. Sidearms are not required to attend.
"The purpose of this is, for the general public and the gun owners alike, education," he said. "I can't believe the number of people who don't know the law."
Similar events have been held at other locations in the state, including Onalaska and last weekend in Green Bay.
Firearms may be loaded but must be holstered at all times at the site. Only people 18 or older may possess a firearm, and no long guns or alcohol will be permitted at the site.
Olson said he actually is not an advocate for the open carry law,
"I am not an advocate of open carry for several reasons; one being that it does give a certain discomfort level to some people," said Olson, a construction contractor.
Olson has invited numerous legislators and officials, including St. Croix County Sheriff Dennis Hillstead.
"He did extend an invitation for me to stop by, but I'm not sure if I will or not," Hillstead said. "I believe it is a way for people to test municipal ordinances against what the state law is."
Chief Darwin said Glenwood City's ordinance regarding handgun possession was "basically unenforceable" based on an April 20 decision by state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.
Darwin said people were receiving disorderly conduct citations for carrying a weapon, but the law states there must be extenuating circumstances or unlawful acts along with carrying the weapon.
Darwin said there will not be a great police presence, in part because budget cuts reduced the police department from three full-time and four part-time officers to only two full-time officers.
"I don't anticipate any problems," he said. "After all, these are the people who came and told us about what they plan to do."
Dick Sullwold, president of the St. Croix County Fair Board, said Wednesday that he had no issues with renting out a portion of the fairgrounds for the event.
"As for me renting out the facilities, I would do it for most any event," he said, adding that it will cost $150 for an outdoor event or $200 if the event is held inside a building on the grounds because of inclement weather.
Rupnow can be reached at 830-5831,
