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http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=822024&catid=391
Packing buns and guns: Hundreds expected for pistol picnic
GLENWOOD CITY, Wis. -- A community picnic - could anything be more American?
"They're very proud citizens around here," says Annette Olson of her neighbors in Glenwood City, Wisconsin as she hangs picnic posters around town.
But this isn't the church or 4-H gathering some might expect in a small rural Western Wisconsin community. This is a picnic of a different caliber.
"The poster talks about our 'open carry' picnic which is on Sunday August 23rd," Annette explains.
"Open carry," as in firearms. Annette is planning for 500 people at the St. Croix County Fairgrounds, proudly displaying their guns on their hips.
The Glenwood City picnic will be modeled after others held earlier this year near Milwaukee, Green Bay, and La Crosse.
The picnics have been held in part to send a message to Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, who has twice vetoed conceal and carry legislation.
"I have passion for the second amendment, liberties and everything else that I feel that we're losing," says Annette's husband Dave 'Ole' Olson, who's putting up $2000 of his own money for the picnic.
The legal right to gather with guns was bolstered recently when Wisconsin Attorney General JB Van Hollen issued an advisory declaring the open carrying of firearms legal under many circumstances.
It was a victory for gun owners, just not the one many of them actually wanted. Thus the picnics were born.
"What we're trying to do is educate the public as well as our public elected officials and let them know that we should actually be supporting conceal and carry here," says Annette. "It's actually much safer for the general public."
"It's not a normal thing for Glenwood City," agreed Glenwood City's police chief Robert Darwin when asked about the prospect of several hundred gun-wearing picnickers at the county fairgrounds.
Yet Darwin isn't overly concerned and plans to add no extra staffing. "I'm hoping that they will keep themselves to the perimeter of the fairgrounds as to not alert the passing public," he says.
Annette Olson left her gun at home as she hung posters in storefronts Thursday, not wanting "to alarm people as I'm walking along the street."
But come August 23rd it won't just be the potato chips she's packing.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=822024&catid=391
Packing buns and guns: Hundreds expected for pistol picnic
GLENWOOD CITY, Wis. -- A community picnic - could anything be more American?
"They're very proud citizens around here," says Annette Olson of her neighbors in Glenwood City, Wisconsin as she hangs picnic posters around town.
But this isn't the church or 4-H gathering some might expect in a small rural Western Wisconsin community. This is a picnic of a different caliber.
"The poster talks about our 'open carry' picnic which is on Sunday August 23rd," Annette explains.
"Open carry," as in firearms. Annette is planning for 500 people at the St. Croix County Fairgrounds, proudly displaying their guns on their hips.
The Glenwood City picnic will be modeled after others held earlier this year near Milwaukee, Green Bay, and La Crosse.
The picnics have been held in part to send a message to Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, who has twice vetoed conceal and carry legislation.
"I have passion for the second amendment, liberties and everything else that I feel that we're losing," says Annette's husband Dave 'Ole' Olson, who's putting up $2000 of his own money for the picnic.
The legal right to gather with guns was bolstered recently when Wisconsin Attorney General JB Van Hollen issued an advisory declaring the open carrying of firearms legal under many circumstances.
It was a victory for gun owners, just not the one many of them actually wanted. Thus the picnics were born.
"What we're trying to do is educate the public as well as our public elected officials and let them know that we should actually be supporting conceal and carry here," says Annette. "It's actually much safer for the general public."
"It's not a normal thing for Glenwood City," agreed Glenwood City's police chief Robert Darwin when asked about the prospect of several hundred gun-wearing picnickers at the county fairgrounds.
Yet Darwin isn't overly concerned and plans to add no extra staffing. "I'm hoping that they will keep themselves to the perimeter of the fairgrounds as to not alert the passing public," he says.
Annette Olson left her gun at home as she hung posters in storefronts Thursday, not wanting "to alarm people as I'm walking along the street."
But come August 23rd it won't just be the potato chips she's packing.