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40th Annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival

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comp45acp

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Watertown, WI, ,
Why would you want to participate in a festival that celebrates unlawful drug use? The media is sure to be there and you will be the star of the nightly "news" show. It's still a free country but it doesn't seem like a wise move to me.
 

range rat

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Cudahy, Wisconsin, USA
Looking to see if others are going.

Since it is right down town Madison on Oct. 2-3, I will be Open Carrying.

any chance we can get you to change your mind about ocing this one?? alot of us old dogs are trying to still get Medical Marijuana in State. [ as well as conceal carry, at this time your realy don't what too mix both of them together]. Very Bad ju, ju,
 

gunguy2009

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Janesville, Wisconsin, USA
Might be a bad Idea to show up there toting a firearm... It would cause quite a stir to Carry a Weapon at a Marijuana Festival... We're not a group that needs that kind attention! "Guns & Drugs" is not a Headline we need to be associated with. We've struggled to get as far as we have, not be scrutinized even further for Carrying Firearms at a Weed Party... Do one or the other, but not both. Its GOING to be seen by the Media, and im sure it WILL be written about and heard across the country.
 

BROKENSPROKET

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Media Coverage

I have never been to one of these kinds of events so I don't know first hand, but what I have deducted from cannabis forums and related podcasts is that the media avoids these events like the plague.
 

Shotgun

Wisconsin Carry, Inc.
Joined
Aug 23, 2006
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2,668
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Madison, Wisconsin, USA
I wouldn't expect the Madison media to ignore it. They'll cover anything that draws a crowd in a public place, especially for weekend news. I thought Ben Masel, one of the organizers, has been on OCDO a couple of times, but can't locate him on here to confirm that. But he might be able to provide advice or guidance.

Madison has changed over the time I've lived here. When I first moved here in 1977 Madison was still in the midst of having the "sin city" reputation. It had lots of porn shops, topless bars, "massage parlors," and street walkers--- plus one could see people smoking or growing pot openly, even smoking on the steps of the state capitol building. Not so much anymore! The sexual element has been largely moved out of downtown completely, and tolerance for drug use is much lower than previously.

I haven't attended one of these events, but I'm not sure how much is a "celebration" of illegal drug use and how much is trying to just show support for legalization. The website for the event says participants should not do anything illegal at the event. I don't know if that's a sincere warning, or if it's got an unwritten "wink" between the lines.

Probably a good opportunity to pick up a tye-dye shirt... watch out for those special brownies.
 

KBCraig

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It's good to keep activism separate: focus on one at a time, and don't engage in two different activism activities at the same time.

That said, there's nothing wrong with focusing on OC outreach while at an event dedicated to a different sort of activism.

Liberty is liberty. Our right to self defense is rooted in self-ownership, which is the same principle that says it's nobody else's business what substances you put in your body.
 

Jason in WI

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Under your bed
A couple of people didn't mind open carrying at a marijuana legalization protest in New Hampshire. I would have thought the hippies would be bent out of shape but apparently not of course they got that free stater thing happening there so who knows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3tUVC-5LZA

Gun stuff starts five minutes in. I would have embedded it but you need to read the description to see whats going on.

I say go for it! Open carry in your everyday normal life is supposed to be the goal here right? So if you are going to attend this event anyway, carry on! Maybe, just don't wear your Wisconsin Carry shirt that day.....:rolleyes:
 

lockman

State Researcher
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Aug 19, 2006
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1,193
Location
Elgin, Illinois, USA
It's good to keep activism separate: focus on one at a time, and don't engage in two different activism activities at the same time.

That said, there's nothing wrong with focusing on OC outreach while at an event dedicated to a different sort of activism.

Liberty is liberty. Our right to self defense is rooted in self-ownership, which is the same principle that says it's nobody else's business what substances you put in your body.

I would agree if you intentions are protest. If your OC intentions are purely self defense and you obviously can not conceal then objections by anyone here are irrelevant to your personal safety.
 
M

McX

Guest
i don't know, it may be just me, but i would be hesitant to carry in a situation where controlled substances may be used, or in use. The 'heat' may view carrying as an 'enhancer'. I could be wrong, but that's just me.
 

Citizen

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
18,269
Location
Fairfax Co., VA
I think the best question is, "Do the potential benefits of OCing to this event outweigh the potential liabilities?"

Benefits: Get in some personal OC time. Maybe a few people discover a 2A right by noticing the OCd gun or asking about it.

Liability: Media maybe picks up on it. Airs it. Buncha negative reaction. Maybe some negative reaction gets to the legislator. Maybe a few stiff-shirt legislators connect druggies and guns in their mind and decide, "Oh, hell no! The last thing we need is stoned bums toting guns."

In my mind, the potential benefits are slight, while the potential liabilities are rather big by comparison.

One could say the media might not even attend the event. And, if they did, they might never notice the gun. And, even if they did, they might never include it in a story. But, then again, they might all three.

But, one has to ask himself, "Are the comparatively minor benefits worth risking the potential damage?"
 
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BROKENSPROKET

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Jan 5, 2010
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Trempealeau County
Thank you to everyone that posted. I have been keeping my posts short cuz my laptop crashed and I hate typing with my thumbs on my DROID. I plan to pick up a new laptop this weekend, then I can catch up on posting.

Just to note, I will not be consuming or in possession. If I do OC, it would be nice to have a liked minded 2A friend to follow behind me with a video camera incase my civil rights are violated.
 

BROKENSPROKET

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any chance we can get you to change your mind about ocing this one?? alot of us old dogs are trying to still get Medical Marijuana in State. [ as well as conceal carry, at this time your realy don't what too mix both of them together]. Very Bad ju, ju,

It is possible that I may change my mind, but at this point, I am not leaning that way.

I think that IF the press does not pick up one man OCing, then Very Bad ju ju would be largely minimalized. I may atill be scorned by some attendees as many pro-cannabis activists are anti-gun.

I would love to evangualize about our constitution rights, but the primary reason for going is to show support for the legalization of cannabis, Cannabis Rx, and industrial hemp.

If anyone asks me why I am carrying a gun, I want to skip all my usual responses, and say becasue I am pissed off.
Pissed off that the DEA in 1974, shut down research at the Medical College of Viriginia that showed that Cannabis kills cancer cells and banned any further research.

http://www.alternet.org/story/9257/
 

BROKENSPROKET

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2010
Messages
2,199
Location
Trempealeau County
It's good to keep activism separate: focus on one at a time, and don't engage in two different activism activities at the same time.

That said, there's nothing wrong with focusing on OC outreach while at an event dedicated to a different sort of activism.

Liberty is liberty. Our right to self defense is rooted in self-ownership, which is the same principle that says it's nobody else's business what substances you put in your body.

I would like to hear more on your thoughts on why one should keep two different activism activities seperate. I OC all the time and have been leaving my WCI t-shirts on the hanger, instead wearing my pro-legalization t-shirts.
 

BROKENSPROKET

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Jan 5, 2010
Messages
2,199
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Trempealeau County
i don't know, it may be just me, but i would be hesitant to carry in a situation where controlled substances may be used, or in use. The 'heat' may view carrying as an 'enhancer'. I could be wrong, but that's just me.

I may worry that others may get searched because they are near me, but for myself, I am not worried. No crime, no enhancer.
 

KBCraig

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4,886
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I would like to hear more on your thoughts on why one should keep two different activism activities seperate. I OC all the time and have been leaving my WCI t-shirts on the hanger, instead wearing my pro-legalization t-shirts.
I only say that it's easier to stay focused on one message when distractions are avoided. Even the pro-legalization folks in NH suggest not advocating two things at once. Give your opponents as few things to seize on as possible.
 
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Spartacus

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Dec 13, 2009
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La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
I would like to hear more on your thoughts on why one should keep two different activism activities seperate. I OC all the time and have been leaving my WCI t-shirts on the hanger, instead wearing my pro-legalization t-shirts.

Just so you understand that most of the world is going to view you as a doper carrying a gun.

You need to pick your battles carefully, BS. If you try and wage war on two fronts you may end up losing both.
 
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