Wisconsin Carry, Inc. files civil suit against Wisconsin

[bnhcomputing]

For immediate release:

On January 8th 2010 Wisconsin Carry, Inc. filed a lawsuit in Federal Court to challenge the constitutionality of Wisconsin's onerous Gun Free School Zone Act.

Wisconsin's Gun Free School Zone Act (GFSZA), which was modeled on the federal Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1990, prohibits the possession or shooting of a firearm within a school zone. It defines a school zone as in the school building, the school grounds, and the area within 1000 feet of the school grounds. The Federal GFSZA was struck down as unconstitutional in 1995. Wisconsin's GFSZA remains.

In 1998 79% of the voters in the great state of Wisconsin voted Article 1 Section 25 into our state constitution. "The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose". The Constitutions of the United States and Wisconsin guarantee the right of individuals to keep and bear arms; and as the United States Supreme Court held in the DC gun ban case, DC v. Heller, "bear" means "carry." Wisconsin’s Gun Free School Zone Act covers such a broad area that it practically forecloses a meaningful right to keep and bear arms in large parts of the state. It is an onerous restriction that has the potential to ensnare thousands of law-abiding citizens exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights and expose them to felony charges. Wisconsin's GFSZ Act places someone who was innocently walking their dog around their subdivision at night while armed in danger of felony charges if they should happen to cross these invisible school zones which extend nearly a quarter mile out from the edge of school property and many properties that are not identified as schools!

More than 2000 people have signed our online petition calling on the Governor and Legislature to repeal this law. Wisconsin Open-Carry Removal of School Zone/Vehicle Transport restrictions Petition

Wisconsin Carry is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and reclamation of the basic rights critical to a free society. Our membership believes in the founding principles of our country and our constitution: That all are created equal, that governments exist to protect the rights of individuals, and that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed. Our mission is to preserve, advance and expand these basic rights which law-abiding citizens are entitled to have a practical ability to exercise.

A copy of the Federal Lawsuit can be viewed at:
http://www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/GFSZ_Complaint.pdf

Wisconsin Carry, Inc.'s Website is WISCONSINCARRY.ORG

Should you wish to help with the cause, membership forms are available here: http://www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/Me...pplication.pdf

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[bnhcomputing]

In Wisconsin it is illegal to possess a firearm within 1000ft of school property UNLESS: The firearm is unloaded and in a case OR you are on private property.


So unloaded and encased, you can walk it down the street to your car. In you own yard or home, no problem. The problem comes in when it is not in a case and on public property (sidewalk/street).


All of our veterans (those who carry in the parades) are subject to felony charges if the parade comes within 1000ft of a school. The bicycle rider, who was being severely beaten in Racine and defended himself by displaying a firearm, is subject to a greater penalty than those who were beating him up.

That is why this law has to go

[dougwg]

I wish Wisconsin Carry, Inc good luck!

[logically]

I signed that petition!

I would love to see that taken out of the law books so i can carry when i walk my dog early in the morning.

[nn]

I wish Wisconsin Carry, Inc good luck!

+1

[logan]

I had actually already posted this in the news section, but it didn't get much attention. It's already doing better here!

Nice to have you on these forums

[bnhcomputing]

We filed this lawsuit on January 8, 2010 and details are available on our web site WISCONSINCARRY.ORG. Wisconsin Carry was formed to take substantive action to protect and advance YOUR gun rights in Wisconsin. We chose to do more than talk about advancing gun rights but rather "do" something. Filing a federal lawsuit was not cheap, nor did it come without months of preparation and significant time and money investment from those involved. This investment was made, and the lawsuit filed before seeking funding or support from anyone. We took action first and are now asking for your support with a $15 donation to support what we have done, not what we promised we would do.

To that end, Wisconsin Carry, Inc. will be at the 2010 Northern Wisconsin Deer Classic & Outdoor Expo Booth #130 in Eau Claire, WI this weekend January (29,30,31) if you would like to meet in person.

Alternatively, if you would like to donate $15 or more to our cause, please visit our web site WISCONSINCARRY.ORG and fill out our online membership application. All donations are handled securely through PayPal.

For those who have already joined and/or donated we thank you for your generous support.

Hubert Hoffman, Vice President
Wisconsin Carry, Inc.
WISCONSINCARRY.ORG
Wisconsin - Stories From The States - OpenCarry.org - Discussion Forum
Hubert@WisconsinCarry.org

[TN_Mike]

Good news. I hope it works out in favor of the freedom loving citizens.

[bnhcomputing]

Wisconsin Carry, Inc. awarded judgment against City of Racine and 2 Racine Police Officers

For Immediate Release:

On September 9th, 2009 Wisconsin Carry, Inc. member Frank Hannan-Rock of Racine was unlawfully arrested while open-carrying on the front porch of his home in Racine.

Open carry supporters say no basis for charges against Racine man

On January 8th Wisconsin Carry, Inc. filed a federal lawsuit against the State of Wisconsin, City of Racine, 2 Racine Police officers, The City of Milwaukee and one Milwaukee Police Officer. In this lawsuit we challenge the constitutionality of Wisconsin's Gun-Free-School-Zone Act. In this lawsuit we also brought on 2 Wisconsin Carry, Inc. Members as co-plaintiffs. Frank Hannan-Rock of Racine was one of these co-plaintiffs.

A copy of the lawsuit can be viewed here:

http://www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/GFSZ_Complaint.pdf

Frank was lawfully open-carrying on his own porch when Racine Police, who were summoned to his neighborhood on an unrelated call, observed and questioned Frank because he was open-carrying. After a few minutes of increasingly aggressive questioning Frank exercised his right to remain silent and was subsequently unlawfully arrested for obstruction of justice for refusing to give his name. In the state of Wisconsin no law allows officers to arrest for obstruction on a person's refusal to give his or her name. "Mere silence is insufficient to constitute obstruction. Henes v. Morrissey, 194 Wis. 2d 339, 533 N.W.2d 802 (1995)"

Details of Frank's encounter can be viewed by going to our website Welcome to Wisconsin Carry, Inc. and clicking on the October 16th blog entry.

Frank was unlawfully arrested and his firearm illegally seized. He was later released without being charged.

Wisconsin Carry, Inc. filed suit on Frank's behalf for his unlawful detainment, arrest, and seizure of his firearm.

On behalf of myself, the board of Wisconsin Carry, Inc. and all of our members, we are pleased to announce that The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has entered a judgment in the amount of $10,000 in favor of Wisconsin Carry, Inc. and Frank Hannon-Rock and against the City of Racine and two Racine police officers.

We look forward to the precedent that this case will set for other municipalities who's police officers operate outside of their legal authority and unlawfully detain, arrest, and seize property of law-abiding open-carriers.

A copy of this judgment can be viewed here:

http://www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/Ju...instRacine.pdf

Hubert Hoffman, Vice President
Wisconsin Carry, Inc.
P.O. Box 270403
Milwaukee, WI. 53227
Hubert@wisconsincarry.org
Welcome to Wisconsin Carry, Inc.

[Eagleks]

Gee, here it if you have a CC license, it is quite legal to carry on any school property, etc. The only restriction is in school buildings AND ONLY IF they are posted "no CC" with an approved sign.

There has been absolutely no issues.

Why do they want to make issues (the Govt) where none exists. Solving problems that don't exist, seems to be their speciality.

[GM]

Good luck Wisconsin Carry Inc!