Rule of Law

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen affirmed in a memorandum to prosecutors on Monday that it is legal to openly carry a gun on the street in Wisconsin and advised prosecutors that merely having a gun doesn't, by itself, warrant a disorderly conduct charge.

However, Milwaukee WI Police Chief Ed Flynn said he'll continue to tell officers they can't assume people are carrying guns legally:

"My message to my troops is if you see anybody carrying a gun on the streets of Milwaukee, we'll put them on the ground, take the gun away and then decide whether you have a right to carry it," Flynn said. "Maybe I'll end up with a protest of cowboys. In the meantime, I've got serious offenders with access to handguns. It's irresponsible to send a message to them that if they just carry it openly no one can bother them."

So in Milwaukee it's OK for the police to harass people who engage in lawful behaviour - the only thing required is that the officer doesn't like what they are doing or feels 'insecure' in some way.

Glenn Reynolds suggests the following:

"So if you see Police Chief Ed Flynn, put him on the ground, take his wallet away, and then decide whether he’s accepted any bribes that day. If, after doing that, you think the money’s his, give his wallet back. Who cares what the law says?"

I wonder what Chief Flynn will tell his troops is three or four thousand tea party protesters showed up across from city hall open carry... I bet THAT would at least be newsworthy... HEH.