Good work, guys!
I think you all did a fantastic job - everyone kept their cool and I'm sure conducted themselves in a respectful manner under the circumstances - severe harassment!!!
Clearly this is a case of harassment. There was no reasonable articulable suspicion (RAS) that a crime had, was, or would take place. 8 officers on scene? Are you kidding me?!?! Apparently Madison is crime-free, because that's a lot of officers to send somewhere when there is no suspicion of criminal activity going on. Was anyone threatened verbally or physically? Was anything stolen? Of course not!
POLICE OFFICERS: PLEASE CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER - YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT RIGHTS. YOU ARE NOT HITLER'S SS - CUFF AND STUFFING LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE THEIR CHOICE OF LEGAL BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!!!
These officers are familiar with open carry and realize it is legal. They should also be familiar with ID laws - people aren't required to produce it. They should also be familiar with "terry stop" requirements.
This is a political harassment tactic, aimed at making things uncomfortable, embarrassing, and inconvenient for people who want to exercise the right to carry firearms. They are also trying to set precedent - that by exercising the right to carry a firearm a person is subsequently forfeiting a right to be secure in their persons AND privacy by not having to produce ID.
When you are out in public, whether it be with friends, family, or simply by yourself, you should not have to deal with harassment by law enforcement when you aren't doing anything wrong. Eating a Butterburger (tm) is not criminal in any stretch of imagination. Enjoying a shake with friends is a peaceful act. Sharing fresh air and conversation outside without being intimidated and coerced is a most basic freedom.
DO WE HAVE THE NAMES OF THESE OFFICERS YET? I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE AND THE BEST DESCRIPTIONS POSSIBLE OF THEIR VERBAL LANGUAGE, BODY LANGUAGE, and ACTIONS.
The most important thing I can think of right now is to make sure as much attention as possible is raised to this situation. I am going to do everything I can in this regard. There needs to be a public education campaign. THIS SHOULD BE THE LAST TIME SOMEONE OPENLY CARRYING IS HARASSED IN WISCONSIN.
These officers were thinking: only we should have guns, people with guns have fewer rights than people without guns, the law doesn't really matter - a gun is involved and I'm a highly-respected police officer so I can break the law here, we need to keep reminding these gun owners we can lord over them and keep them down in their place (uppity open carriers), I can get what I want by threatening criminal charges of obstructing, etc
What else were they thinking? Perhaps they weren't thinking enough.
Disclaimer: I'm a little ticked, so I may be reactionary right now. These comments don't reflect ICarry.org - just my personal thoughts at this time.