With respect to the wording of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution, there is a comma between militia, the phase that follows dealing with the security of a free State, and the phrase concerning ... the right of the PEOPLE to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Those commas were pivotal in a Supreme Court decision. "The people" DOES NOT MEAN "THE STATE" and it does not mean that the Second Amendment deals with the National Guard. See SCOTUS and McDonald v City of Chicago. There is nothing in that decision that requires Mr. McDonald to be a member of the National Guard. The Supreme Court ruled that the 2nd Amendment is "incorporated" onto the States and their political subdivisions.

This issue is surfacing because "The People" are concerned that the current President may try to restrict the Constitution under the pretext that it is "outdated". (Certainly proartist and other visitors to this forum believe that the second amendment is outdated - at least that is what she - and others - have written.)

BILL OF RIGHTS: Amendment II
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."... the people (being the state) allows for the states to have a national guard (a well run militia)
WHY does this come up now? when crime rates all across our country, EVEN Arizona, are dropping or flat? its to fire up the "righties" get them out to vote. its a HOTBUTTON, like gay marriage, abortion, and maybe we will see a flag burning law fight and a good old "war on thanksgiving"

I hate to see this thread die out. Proartist, you make some pretty wild assumptions. You wrote: "There is no way to know if you are mentally stable, legally carrying.."

Anyone openly carrying in Wisconsin in a place not prohibited by law is "legally carrying". The overwhelming odds are that anyone open carrying is a law abiding citizen because bad guys, crazies, and whacko types, all carry concealed until they approach their victim to do their dastardly deeds.

Sure, those who are terrified of their own Civil Right to open carry (and are terrified of my right to open carry) can become frightened and call the police. But, absent any brandishing, the police have better things to do than react to citizen fears of other citizens behaving lawfully.

What Wisconsin needs is concealed carry so that the citizens who fear other lawfully armed citizens just do not know who is carrying a firearm. (And neither do the bad guys.)

When I return to Wisconsin to visit my family, I carry openly when I can. Here at home, I carry concealed - always. (Lawfully on the strength of my concealed carry permit.)

proartist - The police are generally annoyed by people that do those things. The police know how to do their job. Those that don't want them around put up signs like someone else mentioned.

proartist: If the cops have been called on me, the cops haven't seen me as a threat and haven't even approached me. Call all you want but eventually they will tell you to cut it out.

sounds like profiling to me. So I should call the police if I see someone who looks Hispanic because I have no way of knowing if they are a legal resident or not?
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simple rules- if the individual is carrying a holstered weapon while going about routine business = save your airtime minutes.
- if the individual is pointing the weapon at someones face and demanding money = feel free to dial 911

fly_on_the_wall...There are many professional offices and retail businesses in Janesville whose employees already notify local law enforcement officials when they see your weapons whether or not you realize it. They wisely understand, while YOU may think you're just abiding by your Constitutional rights to pretentiously parade your bravado, there is no way they know if you're mentally stable, legally carrying, etc. so it's also their right to keep staff, customers, and bystanders safe by quietly issuing an alert.

justsaynotomath: Believe what you want. The police know our rights. They cannot even talk to us unless a crime has been committed and a citizen report of a man with a gun is not a crime.

Once again, read up on it.

I have NEVER been stopped by police for open carrying.

That would kinda be like you calling me in because I was reading my Bible in public.

justsaynotomath: Great statistics? How about drunk driving? Should we ban beer? You are right, you can call the cops and report a man with a gun all you want, they can show up all you want, all you are doing is wasting a police officers time for a foolish errand. The police are being trained, they know they cannot do anything more than observe to see if any illegal activity is occurring. So, at Starbucks, for example, the cops would drive by, see no one waving guns in the air, see no one panicking and running down the street, shrug their shoulders and get on their way.
You really need to bone up on a Terry stop, probable cause, reasonable articulatable suspicion and such.

ljs64: Outdated? A Constitutional amendment that was passed in 1998? Wisconsin Constitution Article 1, Section 25.
justsaynotomath: I am not a criminal. When the gun is in my car, it is unloaded and encased, just like the state law says. As for loading in public, that is the only legal way to do it, so, once again, not a criminal. Call the cops all you want. If you come to the Walworth County fair, I'll be the one carrying, legally.
all: Just look at the Gazette to see how crime free Janesville is!

pastamom: Go ahead and have our licenses checked. You are right, my gun isn't licensed. I'll almost guarantee you that no one there had one either. Just so you know, there is no licensing of guns in WI.
As a side note, I told the City of Delavan police we were going to be there. Guess how many cops showed up? None that I saw. If they did, they legally cannot ask us for our identification or our 'licenses' unless we do something illegal, which carrying a handgun isn't.

I support open carry -- The cooks are the ones that protest against my right to carry. I choose not to, but thats my choice, not someone elses. Pay attention to your own lives and stay the heck outta mine.

Interesting. So Mr/Ms. Shoo, just how long have you been checking up on me to determine what "crowd" I run with?
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justsaynothankyoutomath (you should update your screen name to be more polite) - are you going to call the police every time you go past Gander Mountain or Dunhams..there are firearms inside, you know. Maybe you should call the police every time you see a police officer as they carry an evil firearm.

Just, And you know this how? I read about it all the time--ol' lady on the train --thief tries to snag her purse--guy on train pulls pistol and runs off would be thief. Happens ALL the time.

ljs64: You just have no clue ....

I've been around more than 60 years and I have yet to encounter a situation in which I could have used a handgun to defend myself or others. While I'm certain that others have had these situations, they are very isolated and do not justify open carry. Sooner or later an open carry advocate will go off the deep end. Hopefully there will be only other open carry advocates there to defend us.

i hope when the govt comes for our rights that those w guns arent hanging out at starbucks;)

Bravo to all who attended the rally. I have a feeling that when the govt. comes to take away our last constitutional rights that you folks will be the only ones there to try to keep them! Keep up the GREAT WORK!!

jvldss: You know, they do say "Happiness is a warm gun."

I bet Kranish does wear that thing to bed to compensate.

that doesnt sound rite:) ahem...

says the guy who thinks drug testing everyone on taxpayer dime would save us money:)

thanx for the retry;)

'you shouldn't believe everything you get in your e-mail'

says the guy who thinks drug testing everyone on tax payer dime should have to pass a drug test

Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about the crowd you run with BunBun. The scary thing is these are the folks that feel the need to strap one on to go to the coffee shop, ice cream store, and the shoe store "for protection".

I've never seen a more hatefull and beligerent bunch of people with so little grasp on reality in my life. Its a good thing none of them believe in being armed.

You keep adding fuel to the fire. Priceless.

Spark go and play!

Mouse - Again, do you have anything to constructive to add to this article instead of posting your childish little remarks? I thought we were done with this crap. Or did you just wake up from your nap? Your true self is starting to really shine with your posts. I've called you out more than once and this is how you respond? Please stop commenting unless you have something to say about the story.

I agree with sannio (Zzzzzzz). At first glance I thought it was the story from a couple weeks ago. Why is this newsworthy if they're going to keep doing it? How many times will they run the same stupid story, different date, about the yahoos who are so insecure about themselves they have to carry guns to Starbucks?

Spark....... yes you do!

And what, pray tell, does that article have to do with this story?

proartist - One can post articles that go both ways all day long.
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http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/homeo...
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http://lubbockonline.com/stories/011910/...

http://www.postcrescent.com/article/2010...

ljs64 - I have never physically fought for this country. I have fought by voting, voicing my opinion and supporting the men and women that have fought physically for this country. I have friends and relatives that have been in combat. I appreciate everything those that have fought have done.
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I'm not "claiming" I'm entitled to a right. I am entitled to many rights under the constitution that was fought for. I don't open/carry and that's my right. Just like it's the right of those that choose to open/carry. It's definitely a touchy subject that not all agree with, but I think we can all agree we appreciate the great freedom this Country provides us. We are lucky.

Half of you people chanting this is "my right" have no clue what "the right to bear arms" was originally intended for. The other 1/2 of you have never spent 1 day fighting for this country or the "rights" you claim to be entitled to.
*************
Heather Palenske says:
"The gun not only provides protection but also accessorizes her outfit. Palenske said pink is her favorite color.

What a disgrace........

pastamom: It is a Constitutional right to keep and Bear Arms. do you know how many people die in trafic accidents EVERY DAY? does this keep you from driving? how many laws do we have now that GOOD PEOPLE ignore. If its out in the open you can bet they don't have a malicous intent

Oooooo, a PINK gun?
Perhaps they carry one in blackberry velvet to match my Versace evening gown... I wonder if the Overture would kick me out. THe criminals in Madcity have been pretty frisky lately.

Just like those that choose to visit these places and exercise their right. Those of you that choose not to visit because of them, is your given right. Have to love America.

prounuion, I've seen that e-mail too, you shouldn't believe everything you get in your e-mail, the tax form thing is not entierly true. that was tried and shot downway back whe we had the Clinton gun grabber crue. as far as the open carry, I'm all for it!! you gotta look at the mentality of the criminal, there not gonna rob some place where there might be some one armed, they preffer un-armed victoms, I a land where there are sheep there will be wolves, the sheep don't like the sheep dogs until the wolves come around. do yourself a favor learn to protect yourself and your loved ones, the police have NO obligation to protect you.

I would leave a business if I saw people with open carry guns in the store (and probably call 911 to have the police check that they are licensed). I think anyone else who is not comfortable with this concept should do the same. Perhaps if businesses start losing customers laws could eventually be changed.

Good for you, yada! Starbucks replied to my concerns by writing, "Sadly, we have had our own experiences with the tragedy of gun violence...." Apparently profits and press trump the well-being of baristas and customers who aren't so paranoid to think "protection" requires carrying a gun everywhere. Rather than just boycotting those businesses that not only support, but promote, open carry, make sure you let them know why you're no longer a customer. http://www.starbucks.com/customer-servic...

carry on with the open carry gun law.

Can you guys believe that on this year's tax form there is a spot where you are forced to record the location, quantity and types of firearms you own? Also you have to list the time of day when usually no one is at the home. Its really weird.

Can't wait to see some of these slingers at the local swimming pools.

I will go to Starbucks now, little chance someone will walk in to rob that place.

Goodbye to Starbucks - Time to get coffee somewhere else.

Heather Palenske - you are everything that is wrong with the Open Carry movement. Treating a firearm like a fashion statement/accessory has to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard....even topping the Niles' boys wearing a weapon to buy ice cream. I should thank you, though. Thanks to people like you, more people are likely to disapprove of Open Carry.

Heather Palenske: Please don't wear your fashionable PINK pistol to my family's weddings and/or funerals.

Really sannio? You think that people exercising their right to bear arms is boring?? Wake up and pay attention! We are slowly losing our rights each day in this country, and it's due in part to people like you who are sleeping right through it all!

Zzzzzzz......

First the Niles Boys in Janesville and now a much larger group of law abiding citizens duly exercising their Civil Right under the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution to protect themselves. Many thanks to the Janesville Gazette for providing the coverage. To my brothers and sisters in Wisconsin, carry on and carry proudly. Let no one forget "... the right of the PEOPLE to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Right On!!!!!