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Brad Krause Confronted for Open Carry — Again
April 23, 2009
West Allis, Wis.— While being interviewed by WISN News (Milwaukee), Brad Krause was again confronted by police responding to a complaint of a man carrying a gun.
As police approached Krause with cameras rolling, one officer said, "Somebody called the police that somebody was walking around with a gun on their hip."
"I would fit that description," Krause responded.
"That would be you," the officer said.
Click Here to Watch The Video
One female officer asked Krause what "agency" he worked for, implying only the police can carry guns. Eventually the police left him alone.
Krause recently had charges against him dropped after he was arrested for disorderly conduct. The Krause case, combined with the Jesus Gonzalez case, prompted Wisconsin Attorney General J.B.Van Hollen to release a memo emphasizing the legality of carry.
But Van Hollen's memo left the door open for police to contact citizens carrying guns. And this most recent example shows how police are taking that advice.
Gun = Felon? Guilty Until Proven Innocent
One of the most amazing statements during the video was by the male officer, who stated,"The reason I'm checking is because felons can't have guns in Wisconsin."
Krause is not a felon, but that's not the point said Corey Graff, Executive Director of Wisconsin Gun Owners, Inc. (WGO). "Carrying a gun no more implies one is a felon than driving a car implies one is a drunk driver," he said. "The police need to go back to school and learn the basic principle of innocent until proven guilty. They have no authority whatsoever to be going around making sure people are or are not felons just because they don't like citizens carrying guns."
The report quoted anti-gun Milwaukee democrat Leon Young (a former police officer) who couldn't manage to formulate a coherent thought, but muttered something about "walking down the street with a gun in your hand and people can see it or you've got one in your holster here and people can see it, it's going to create a disturbance."
"Yes it will create a disturbance — for criminals," Graff said. "Milwaukee's claim to fame is the murder capital of Wisconsin because the bad guys know their intended victims can't defend themselves. When the good guys are carrying guns, it is very disruptive for criminals."
Krause summed it up best when he said, "This is America. If we don't stand up for our rights ... what are we doing here? What have people fought and died for? Why'd we found this country?"
Related Stories on Open Carry:
Police Stop Man for Open Carry
Wisconsin Attorney General: Open Carry LegalWisconsin Open Carry Federal Lawsuit Filed Against West Milwaukee Police
Open carrying of firearms legal, Van Hollen says (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Brad Krause Found Not Guilty in Open Carry Case
Gun Rights Controversies Underscore Fundamental Issues of Freedom
If you're tired of the broken system of compromise and access — a system which has netted gun owners only more gun control — we urge you to Join Wisconsin Gun Owners, Inc. today!
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