• We are now running on a new, and hopefully much-improved, server. In addition we are also on new forum software. Any move entails a lot of technical details and I suspect we will encounter a few issues as the new server goes live. Please be patient with us. It will be worth it! :) Please help by posting all issues here.
  • The forum will be down for about an hour this weekend for maintenance. I apologize for the inconvenience.
  • If you are having trouble seeing the forum then you may need to clear your browser's DNS cache. Click here for instructions on how to do that
  • Please review the Forum Rules frequently as we are constantly trying to improve the forum for our members and visitors.

Travis Yates' update: Madison, WI Man who openly carried gun will fight disorderly conduct charge

D

Doug Huffman

Banned
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
9,180
Location
Washington Island, across Death's Door, Wisconsin,
imported post

http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11079594

MADISON (WKOW) -- The UW-Madison graduate student, who police cited with disorderly conduct after walking openly with a gun for about a dozen blocks in broad daylight through downtown, is fighting his ticket.
Travis Yates tells 27 News that his lawyer entered a "mute plea" in municipal court, in effect a not guilty plea. A preliminary hearing is now scheduled for September 29.
Yates said he opted to have his case heard before a judge, not a jury. In an email this week, he wrote, "We are hoping the city will decide not to prosecute."
Ealier this year, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen issued an advisory to the state's district attorneys, asking them to consider circumstances before charging someone who openly carries with disorderly conduct.
That memorandum was issued following an incident in West Allis in February in which a homeowner was charged after a neighbor saw him walking on his lawn with a gun in plain view.
 
springfield 1911

springfield 1911

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2008
Messages
484
Location
Racine, Wisconsin, USA
imported post

AnyJ.Gleason wrote:
Finally, someone is taking a stand. :celebrate
Click to expand...

Any time a member or a non member o.c. at times with police interference, writes or sends e-mails, hosts a picnic, attends common council meetings along with members who research and post their findings. AS I see it a stand has been taken by many.

Edited to mention Parabellum and Brad in their cases.
 
J

J.Gleason

Banned
Joined
May 1, 2009
Messages
3,481
Location
Chilton, Wisconsin, USA
imported post

OK, geez I forgot how petty people are on here about the words you use.

Finally!, It is about time someone takes a stand and fights the legal fight in court that will hopefully get the attention of ignorant police officers all over the state.

That better?

Edited to comment on para and Brad

I am talking about on a municipal level
 
T

trailblazer2003

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2008
Messages
211
Location
Madison, Wisconsin, ,
imported post

I like how on the same page about Travis, the first story in the Most read stories listing is about a UW student beaten near campus.

"Why would you need to carry a gun?"
 
N

Nutczak

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
2,165
Location
The Northwoods, lakeland area, Wisconsin, USA
imported post

trailblazer2003 wrote:
I like how on the same page about Travis, the first story in the Most read stories listing is about a UW student beaten near campus.

"Why would you need to carry a gun?"
Click to expand...
And the most viewed video on the same webpageis of State Representative Fred Clark (D) running a red light and having a wreck with a bicyclist! I bet if there was not video he would have lied and lied about the incident until he was visibly blue instead of metaphorically. He states "he was justnot paying attention" I think for someone not fully aware of running a red light, he sure was abel to get on the brakes quick.. I bet the prick ran the light on purpose and just didn't expect a bicyclist to come through on a green.
 
P

Passive101

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
223
Location
, ,
imported post

If it goes to trail and he needs support I'm willing to attend. If it's cold I just want something warm to drink :)
 
david.ross

david.ross

Regular Member
Joined
May 24, 2008
Messages
1,241
Location
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
imported post

Nutczak wrote:
He states "he was justnot paying attention" I think for someone not fully aware of running a red light, he sure was abel to get on the brakes quick.. I bet the prick ran the light on purpose and just didn't expect a bicyclist to come through on a green.
Click to expand...
Did anyone care to see if he was talking on his cellphone or text messaging?
 
A

apjonas

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
1,157
Location
, ,
imported post

I'm concerned about the photo. Certainly he did not have his hand on the gun while strolling about. Was he encouraged to pose this way? Don't be suckered in by the media, what you say and what you do will be misrepresented.
 
A

apjonas

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
1,157
Location
, ,
imported post

Doug Huffman wrote:
http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11079594

MADISON (WKOW) -- The UW-Madison graduate student, who police cited with disorderly conduct after walking openly with a openly holstered gun for about a dozen blocks in broad daylight (this is important because??) through downtown, is fighting his ticket.
Travis Yates tells 27 News that his lawyer entered a "mute plea" in municipal court, in effect a not guilty plea. If you have a lawyer, let the lawyer do the talking. A preliminary hearing is now scheduled for September 29.
Yates said he opted to have his case heard before a judge, not a jury. Does a municipal citation give you the option of a jury trial? It might have been a good choice. The judge would then have to explain the law to the jury. In an email this week, he wrote, "We are hoping the city will decide not to prosecute." Don't turn into a publicity whore. See comment on attorney above.
Ealier this year, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen issued an advisory to the state's district attorneys, asking them to consider circumstances before deciding whether or not to chargeing someone who openly carries with disorderly conduct. Not really. The simple act of OC cannot be the basis for a DC charge, whatever the circumstances. Now putting your hand on the gun (see photo) is problematic.
That memorandum was issued following an incident in West Allis in February in which a homeowner was charged after a neighbor saw him walking on his (the neighbor's?)lawn-ambiguous at best.) with a holstered gun in plain view (this is not a bad act - itis required by state law). And what happened then Carl? Sometimes omission is the graver offense.
Click to expand...
I thought Carl Agnelly was smarter and more honestthan this article indicates. Maybe he was having a bad day. Or is something else at work? If you permit it, the media will play you like a cheap fiddle. This is beginning to look like an attempt to snatch defeat from the jaws of certain victory.
 
T

trailblazer2003

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2008
Messages
211
Location
Madison, Wisconsin, ,
Interceptor_Knight

Interceptor_Knight

Regular Member
Joined
May 18, 2007
Messages
2,851
Location
Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
imported post

apjonas wrote:
Now putting your hand on the gun (see photo) is problematic.
Click to expand...
apjonas wrote:
I'm concerned about the photo. Certainly he did not have his hand on the gun while strolling about. Was he encouraged to pose this way? Don't be suckered in by the media, what you say and what you do will be misrepresented.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

The simple act of touching your holstered handgun violates no law. It may not be the image we wish to convey but it is not an issue unless you are acting otherwise threatening. The singular act of offending a hyper sensitive individual is never legitimate basis for DC. If you notice, theretaining strap is even snapped in place. Although it is proper weapon retention, it is nota requirement for OC.

One of the arguments against OC in parks used this past week was the issue of someone walking up and grabbing your handgun from its holster. If someone were to hassle someone about touching their holstered handgun, they could merely reply that they are ensuring that it is secure.


My response to this line of questioning was to inquire if there is a rash of people trying to disarm police officers in the city and how many instances of this have occured in the past.
 
DanM

DanM

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2008
Messages
1,928
Location
West Bloomfield, Michigan, USA
imported post

Interceptor_Knight wrote:
My response to this line of questioning was to inquire if there is a rash of people trying to disarm police officers in the city and how many instances of this have occured in the past.
Click to expand...

Or, even more to the point, inquire if there isa rash of people trying to disarm civilian open carriers.

And, when they sputter that they don't know, point them to this website, tell them that thousands of hours of actual open carry are documented, and that the "your gun will get grabbed" myth has been thoroughly debunked.
 
P

Passive101

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
223
Location
, ,
imported post

DanM wrote:
Interceptor_Knight wrote:
My response to this line of questioning was to inquire if there is a rash of people trying to disarm police officers in the city and how many instances of this have occured in the past.
Click to expand...

Or, even more to the point, inquire if there isa rash of people trying to disarm civilian open carriers.

And, when they sputter that they don't know, point them to this website, tell them that thousands of hours of actual open carry are documented, and that the "your gun will get grabbed" myth has been thoroughly debunked.
Click to expand...
In the IN forum there is a member who had his firearm that didn't have active retention removed from him without his consent or knowledge at a range from a man behind him.

In IN a man in Indianapolis had his firearm taken away from him in a shoulder holster. He was able to use his second firearm to attack the man who took his firearm.

both of these incidents took place just over the past few months. It does happen and will happen again. Active retention and training are required and are more important while open carrying over concealed carry.
 
Interceptor_Knight

Interceptor_Knight

Regular Member
Joined
May 18, 2007
Messages
2,851
Location
Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
imported post

Passive101 wrote:
In the IN forum there is a member who had his firearm that didn't have active retention removed from him without his consent or knowledge at a range from a man behind him.

In IN a man in Indianapolis had his firearm taken away from him in a shoulder holster. He was able to use his second firearm to attack the man who took his firearm.

both of these incidents took place just over the past few months. It does happen and will happen again. Active retention and training are required and are more important while open carrying over concealed carry.
Click to expand...

You can't fix stupid. They probably let their kids play in traffic also.... Some people just do not think.
No gun for you... one year.....:lol:
 
O

opencarrybilly

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2009
Messages
164
Location
Loveland, Colorado, USA
imported post

Finally!, It is about time someone takes a stand and fights the legal fight in court that will hopefully get the attention of ignorant police officers all over the state.
Click to expand...
If even half of the people viewing this forum were to "kick in" a little money, and ask others to do likewise, many more cases like this one and likemine would be fought in courts. It is apparently too much to ask lawyers to work pro bono or on a contingency fee (which, due to the small awards usually awarded, is tantamount to pro bono). I have asked every lawyer in the Denver area who is listed on the Cobar website as practicing Constitutional law/civil rights. No takers. Friends of mine have appealed to many others. No takers.

Can't blame the lawyers. It's is not their personal fight. It is up to us - we who profess to care about the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
 
D

Doug Huffman

Banned
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
9,180
Location
Washington Island, across Death's Door, Wisconsin,
imported post

Kidz are 'traffic'!

A great work out is 'Ride the Connector'. How many circuits of the James Island Connector (built to interstate standards but a mere state hiway) can you make from 1700 to 1800 on a bicycle?

Or; I bicycled Fl-200 from US-17 to FL-A1A in drive time towing a BOB trailer with no problems.

The conspiracy of ignorance masquerades as common sense.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top