WisconsinPI
Regular Member
4 squad cars, out walking with my 2 year old daughter on my shoulders, circled 2 blocks, lawe st by the park, I forget the name (playground, kiddie pool) and up around to cass and back (I live on Lawe) I saw 3 sets of people, some scary looking people by the park, I will not elaborate because thats another issue and my personal opinion I dont wish to go into. Then a family looking like something out of joe Dirt with a boxer that was barking and running in circles when we approached from the other side of the street walking away, so i thought ok, if this dog charges i'm going to just kick him away until i feel he's really trying to attack (daughter on shoulders and arm free to reach firearm) ****I have never had this thought before, and it was just a scenario in my head, not something i would plan on or jump to shooting a dog, i just feared if i fell my daughter could get mauled. and lastly i saw a guy mowing his lawn, police contact was about 45 seconds after guy mowing lawn so i'm led to believe it was one of the first 2 groups, but thats immaterial, the police said they'd inform them it's legal.
The stop. 2 squad cars, a branch with hanging leaves knocks my daughters hat off i spin to pick it up and see them, I know exactly whats happening, this is my first stop btw. then 2 more almost immediatly. 3 cops approach one waits in car. "sir, sir come here" I turn where i'm at and say "i'm open carrying, it's perfectly legal and i'm legal to carry, i'm sure you're encountered this before" they say yes we know, someone called, etc, small talk small talk, I say "well, I know i'm free to go unless you're going to detain me, i'm not intimidated and i've committed and don't plan on committing any crimes, my house is right around this bend, however, i will be walking here always armed and i do not wish this to keep happening, my name is ______ here is my ID, run me, do your thing, and get used to this, i am not in a rush, i don't mind talking with you, i know it's your job, but you need to understand it's going to happen and now with CCW you will not even have a clue whos carrying, so i believe this is more clear, a visual deterrant and saves me from ever having to announce to a suprised criminal i'm carrying, the odds of me being harmed while open carrying are slim to none."
we make small talk while they run my stuff, which i know people will give me crap for submitting my information, but i don't need to play mr secretive, it's my right, i've got nothing to hide and i want them to know me, and know i'm going to be carrying, because i could care less if i'm on 10000 lists of mr guy that carrys a gun, it's my right and i would go on tv and declare that i will always carry.
anyway, they thank me, they did say most people get really nervous or hostile or try and walk or argue and i acknowledged i know this is the usual thing, but i don't want to be a dick for the sake of being a dick, i'm in the same line of work, but since i don't have a badge hanging around my neck i get stopped, whenever i have either my armed security badge, pi credentials or in florida my fugitive recovery agent gear, then not a single call except the occasional old lady calling the cops to find out why there's a group of cops (which we are not) on her street.
anyway, cops were decent, one guy was great, wanted to talk guns and he was all for open carry and was generally a great guy, the woman was very cordial and i did the most small talk with the other guy whom i did stand my ground with and he visibily didn't agree with it much, but he knew there wasn't a thing he could do and i made that clear, i also asked that they think of implementing a program or placing information around letting people know it's legal to open carry, the female said she'd be stopping by the complaintants and letting them know i am legal to carry and was a "nice guy, peaceably and legally carrying his weapon" so i called it a success and now as i write this, i feel like going out for more walks is going to be a hassle, so now i'm debating continuing my walk, but on the other hand, have a strong urge to educate my new neighborhood on the legality of open carry.
The stop. 2 squad cars, a branch with hanging leaves knocks my daughters hat off i spin to pick it up and see them, I know exactly whats happening, this is my first stop btw. then 2 more almost immediatly. 3 cops approach one waits in car. "sir, sir come here" I turn where i'm at and say "i'm open carrying, it's perfectly legal and i'm legal to carry, i'm sure you're encountered this before" they say yes we know, someone called, etc, small talk small talk, I say "well, I know i'm free to go unless you're going to detain me, i'm not intimidated and i've committed and don't plan on committing any crimes, my house is right around this bend, however, i will be walking here always armed and i do not wish this to keep happening, my name is ______ here is my ID, run me, do your thing, and get used to this, i am not in a rush, i don't mind talking with you, i know it's your job, but you need to understand it's going to happen and now with CCW you will not even have a clue whos carrying, so i believe this is more clear, a visual deterrant and saves me from ever having to announce to a suprised criminal i'm carrying, the odds of me being harmed while open carrying are slim to none."
we make small talk while they run my stuff, which i know people will give me crap for submitting my information, but i don't need to play mr secretive, it's my right, i've got nothing to hide and i want them to know me, and know i'm going to be carrying, because i could care less if i'm on 10000 lists of mr guy that carrys a gun, it's my right and i would go on tv and declare that i will always carry.
anyway, they thank me, they did say most people get really nervous or hostile or try and walk or argue and i acknowledged i know this is the usual thing, but i don't want to be a dick for the sake of being a dick, i'm in the same line of work, but since i don't have a badge hanging around my neck i get stopped, whenever i have either my armed security badge, pi credentials or in florida my fugitive recovery agent gear, then not a single call except the occasional old lady calling the cops to find out why there's a group of cops (which we are not) on her street.
anyway, cops were decent, one guy was great, wanted to talk guns and he was all for open carry and was generally a great guy, the woman was very cordial and i did the most small talk with the other guy whom i did stand my ground with and he visibily didn't agree with it much, but he knew there wasn't a thing he could do and i made that clear, i also asked that they think of implementing a program or placing information around letting people know it's legal to open carry, the female said she'd be stopping by the complaintants and letting them know i am legal to carry and was a "nice guy, peaceably and legally carrying his weapon" so i called it a success and now as i write this, i feel like going out for more walks is going to be a hassle, so now i'm debating continuing my walk, but on the other hand, have a strong urge to educate my new neighborhood on the legality of open carry.