No, I don't know what it is, either.
Two men heading to Appleton's downtown farmers market with AR-15 rifles slung over their shoulders and handguns in holsters swiftly attracted the attention of police officers last weekend.
...
The men, Charles Branstrom, 27, and Ross Bauman, 22, ultimately were released without tickets or charges.For the life of me, I can't imagine why anybody in this situation was afraid bullets might start flying.
Branstrom recorded the confrontation with Appleton Police. About six minutes into the recording, one officer sees Branstrom's camera, confiscates it and attempts to turn it off — but stops only the video.
The device continues recording audio for about 45 minutes.
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According to the recording:
The men are walking down the street when they see a police car's lights go on and they see officers approaching. As the officers order the men to put their hands against the wall, the police ask why they're carrying the guns that way.
"For self-defense," Branstrom says.
"These are real AR-15s guys. I'll cover them both," says one officer, who levels his own weapon at the men as another officer begins questioning them.
Police ask if the men are headed to the farmers market.
"Yeah, we were just going to do some shopping," Branstrom says.
"Do you understand how that might create a disturbance if you're walking around with an AR-15 strapped to your back?" asks an officer.
"Yeah, I guess some people don't like guns," Branstrom replies.
Throughout the stop, both men appear polite and cooperative. Another officer orders that they be put in handcuffs and moved to separate squad cars.
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The officers check the concealed-carry permits and run the serial numbers of the guns. One speaks with a prosecutor — most of the conversation is inaudible because of background noise — and eventually the men are released with their property.
One officer offers this parting comment: "I get what you guys are trying to do. ... But when you grow up a little bit and you're a parent and have kids at an event like this and you see someone walk through with guns strapped to their back, your first inclination is going to be, 'All right, what's this guy up to? Is my child going to be safe?'"
Branstrom, an Appleton truck mechanic, said he gets that argument, but said police just "provoked more fear and panic" the way the rolled up on him and Bauman.
"I'm still kind of shaken," he said. "I was one nervous twitch away from having a bullet put in me," he said.
Oh, wait: maybe I can. And self-defense? At a farmer's market? Where, in Syria?
Truth IS a relationship. And it's the breakdown of social communal relationships that is the general problem, methinks.
The throng may have thinned out pretty quickly had the two made their armed stroll through the farmer's market. I know I'd have cleared out.
ReplyDelete"What an idiot! Yes he may have the right and yes the cop was wrong to detain him, but walking down a city street with an AR makes gun owners look like tin foil hatted morons."
Do you think so? They're your mates.
I just have this feeling that instead of two white guys on their way to the farmers market that this was six black guys hanging out outside of a local Republican Party headquarters ”defending themselves" that this would have ended very differently and we'd be having a very different discussion.
ReplyDeleteSame thing happened not too long ago in Corrales. I wasn't there, but I happen to know the mayor, whose wife is a close friend of my wife.
ReplyDeleteCouple of guys show up with rifles at a village picnic, making a big deal about their right to bear arms. Of course things at the picnic went downhill--who wants to take a chance with their kids in that environment? What fun is it wondering if those guys showing off their guns might really be a little unstable in other ways?
So the mayor asks the council to pass an ordinance banning guns at village events. The NRA gets word of it, sends its goon squad in talking about their sacred right to brandish any kind of gun they want anywhere they want. Funny thing is, they got TV coverage, not for their gun bullying, but because they went ballistic when the council opened the meeting with the pledge of allegiance said in Spanish.
Just sad and stupid.
Personal note: RMJ, have you seen "To the Wonder"? A beautiful, beautiful movie. Set in part in Paris and Mount Saint-Michel--but mostly in Bartlesville, OK, an old stomping ground of your, if I remember correctly. You will not regret the time with it. Is available in CD or streaming if you're on Netflix.
Thanks, Rick. I'll look that up.
ReplyDeletetrex: so true.
Mimi--this is my favorite part:
"I'm still kind of shaken," he said. "I was one nervous twitch away from having a bullet put in me," he said.
No duh. Wonder if anybody else felt that way?