The NRA's website has a section on various states' gun laws. According to their site (http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/WISL.pdf) "State law does not prohibit the open carrying of a firearm, but a person should exercise caution when carrying a firearm in public".
I called the police just to make sure and they said that I would be arrested for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.
Does anyone know who's right?
Just to clarify my motives - I'm not looking to be John Wayne and carry my gun at the mall. I do quite a bit of hiking (sometimes at night) and I just want a way to protect myself.
2007-12-02 06:15:15 · 3 answers · asked by Jim 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
NOTE: This is a question regarding OPEN carrying of firearms NOT concealed.
2007-12-02 09:05:04 · update #1
To answer the question of whether I thought the cops were lying to me: the person I talked to at the police department didn't exactly seem to be a walking encyclopedia on the law. "Public nuisance" for carrying a gun while hiking in the woods???
2007-12-02 11:36:51 · update #2
Here is a precise quote from the official publication of the State of Wisconsin (see source, below):
"Concealed Weapons Prohibited. In Wisconsin, only police officers may carry concealed firearms [s. 941.23]. In a 1993 case (State v. Keith, 175 Wis. 2d 75), the Wisconsin Court of Appeals defined the three elements of a concealed weapons violation: 1) the dangerous weapon is on the defendant’s person or within reach; 2) the defendant is aware of the weapon’s presence; and 3) the weapon is hidden."
It would seem that the NRA is mistaken.
2007-12-02 09:00:41 · answer #1 · answered by Edward G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legal or not - did you think the cops were lying to you ? Carry openly and you will be in the House of Many Doors very quickly. The stated reason won't be "Following the Precepts of the Second Amendment'', but creating a public nuisance or some such.
Your call.
2007-12-02 11:26:25 · answer #2 · answered by sirbobby98121 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In WI, disorderly conduct essentially equals behavior that tends to or does create a disturbance. Essentially if someone sees you carry openly and is disturbed, you can be arrested. I'm sure almost everyone that sees you would call the police as it is unusual and suspicious that someone is carrying a firearm.
2007-12-02 12:40:46 · answer #3 · answered by county43 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋