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http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=10990645with video
Green Bay Leaders Want Guns Out of ParksUpdated:
var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Aug 26, 2009 12:11 AM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);
Aug 26, 2009 12:11 AM EDT
By Sarah Thomsen
Open-carry picnics like the one held in Green Bay earlier this month may be illegal soon if Green Bay city leaders get their way.
The City is trying to prohibit people from openly carrying guns in parks -- but some say that's an infringement on their rights.
As about 90 people showed the community three weeks ago, it's perfectly legal to openly carry a holstered gun in a public park. A group did it with a Saturday afternoon picnic at Ted Fritsch Park with no problems, no disturbances.
"We're not planning any more open-carry picnics, that was just one, but they, Green Bay, wants to make sure it never happens again," open-carry supporter Bronson Smith said.
The city's law department drafted an ordinance prohibiting weapons in city parks unless they're unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case.
"People do still have the constitutional right to bear arms -- that right is absolute. They can openly carry a firearm in public but there are regulations in existence within state statute," assistant city attorney Tony Wachewicz said.
Current law prohibits open-carry in public buildings, and some city alders contend public parks should be included. They are, in both county and state laws.
"I'm just concerned how that affects individuals' rights to enjoy the parks," council member Amy Kocha said.
"Policemen come to our parks to protect our parks with guns. As a citizen, as a mother, that's how I feel safe, so I support this," Alder Celestine Jeffreys said.
"I'm not going to support this. I don't think carrying a holstered sidearm is dangerous," Alder Dan Piton said.
"For somebody to go out in public and enjoy the right to bear arms, by excluding all parks in Green Bay would be an extreme restriction," open-carry supporter Ed Foral argued.
The Green Bay Parks Committee voted 3-1 to ban open-carry in parks and sent it to the council for debate.
Open-carry supporters will spend the next week talking with council members, trying to convince them open-carry is a good idea. They'll also be at the city council meeting September 1st when this is debated.
http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=10990645with video
Green Bay Leaders Want Guns Out of ParksUpdated:
var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Aug 26, 2009 12:11 AM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);
Aug 26, 2009 12:11 AM EDT
By Sarah Thomsen
Open-carry picnics like the one held in Green Bay earlier this month may be illegal soon if Green Bay city leaders get their way.
The City is trying to prohibit people from openly carrying guns in parks -- but some say that's an infringement on their rights.
As about 90 people showed the community three weeks ago, it's perfectly legal to openly carry a holstered gun in a public park. A group did it with a Saturday afternoon picnic at Ted Fritsch Park with no problems, no disturbances.
"We're not planning any more open-carry picnics, that was just one, but they, Green Bay, wants to make sure it never happens again," open-carry supporter Bronson Smith said.
The city's law department drafted an ordinance prohibiting weapons in city parks unless they're unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case.
"People do still have the constitutional right to bear arms -- that right is absolute. They can openly carry a firearm in public but there are regulations in existence within state statute," assistant city attorney Tony Wachewicz said.
Current law prohibits open-carry in public buildings, and some city alders contend public parks should be included. They are, in both county and state laws.
"I'm just concerned how that affects individuals' rights to enjoy the parks," council member Amy Kocha said.
"Policemen come to our parks to protect our parks with guns. As a citizen, as a mother, that's how I feel safe, so I support this," Alder Celestine Jeffreys said.
"I'm not going to support this. I don't think carrying a holstered sidearm is dangerous," Alder Dan Piton said.
"For somebody to go out in public and enjoy the right to bear arms, by excluding all parks in Green Bay would be an extreme restriction," open-carry supporter Ed Foral argued.
The Green Bay Parks Committee voted 3-1 to ban open-carry in parks and sent it to the council for debate.
Open-carry supporters will spend the next week talking with council members, trying to convince them open-carry is a good idea. They'll also be at the city council meeting September 1st when this is debated.