imported post
I'd like to start my reply stating that I understand that Summerfest can stop us from entering, that doesn't mean we have to like it and can speak out about it.
VRider911 wrote:
As for your idea of a "benefit" to open carry on the grounds, in my opinion there are none.
No offense VRider911, you are allowed your opinion, however, we are also allowed our opinion when it comes to protecting our lifes. Just because you fail to see a benefit in defending yourself doesn't mean we don't.
During my two trips into Summerfest this year if I wanted to conceal carry a weapon into the grounds I would have had no trouble doing so. An ankle holster wouldn't have been a problem both times, one of the times any small of back holster or weak-side holster would have been fine as one the security guy saw my pocket knife he failed to continue with the wand, hmmmm, if your concerned with my knife wouldn't you want to check to see if I had anything else?
So there are a couple reasons why I see a "benefit" in OC'g.
VRider911 wrote:
The vast majority of the people who come to summerfest are milwaukee county residents. We do get a significant amount of people from the suburbs and from other areas of the state as well as quite a good amount of people who make the trip up from Illinios. Patrons are not accustomed to seeing regular people carrying sidearms. Law enforcement personnel yes, Joe Average no.
So you are saying that as time goes on and people are more accustom to the laws of Wisconsin, and OC is normal that it will be OK for people to protect themselves? Why should my right to protect myself be any different just because someone else feels better about me protecting myself?
VRider911 wrote:
Add in to that the size of the crowds we deal with numbering anywhere from a slow weekday of 25K to the memorial day weekend where we had somewhere between 75K and 100K just thinking about someone carrying openly brings shivers to my thoughts. I dont even want to think about the number of radio calls that would bring about.
How is this any different than a busy weekend at a mall? Just because there are more people present does not mean that the danger is less, it means it's MORE! Again with the concern of people that don't know the law making calls, with time that will deminish, what about all of the scary looking kids walking around?
VRider911 wrote:
But even scarier than that is contemplating the ramifications of that individual discharging that weapon in a crowd. I dont care if he/she felt threatened or thatthey felt theirlife was in danger, there are far too many bystanders present to act as a backstop. Your asking me to trust a persons gun handling skills without knowing that person. Are they carrying a load with a frangible bullet? Is it a factory load or a handload? Does it make major on the USPSA scale? Do I care?
And there it is, you don't care about a persons right to self-defense. You sure as hell aren't going to be there to stop some group of thugs from bashing in my head, you aren't going to be there when some thug pulls a gun on me, you aren't going to be there when a group of drunk bikers decide they want to bash my head on the rocks. That is all fine and good, it's not your responsibility to protect me, it's MY responsibility!
Know your target and beyond, it's one of the cardinal rules.
Who cares what type of bullets I have in my gun, it doesn't matter.
VRider911 wrote:
The attorney general gave his opinion as to the legality of open carry. Now agencies all over the state are having to deal with it.
They have been dealing with it for years, however, now they actually have to deal with it in the correct manner. They can't just arrest someone with a BS charge now.
VRider911 wrote:
As much as I will defend to the death the right to bear arms, I will not defend what I believe to be a ludicrous act of bravado.
This is where I think you are confused and are twisting the facts to fit your argument. We are carrying to protect ourselves, it just happens that in doing so we are making people aware of our rights.
VRider911 wrote:
Given the specifics of how Summerfest operates and that you can drink alchoholic beverages anywhere on the grounds, I believe not only would it be illegal to open carry at Summerfest but also that we have the right to deny entry to anyone who sought entry who was doing so. That is not to say the given a test of the law I could not be found wrong, only that at this time, I believe I am right.
As I stated earlier in this thread, and why I started this thread to begin with. I was trying to find out of the liquor license was from the entire grounds or just the buildings. Yes, Summerfest has the right to deny people entry, they doesn't mean that it's the right thing to do. Obviously, we disagree about that.
I do appreciate you coming to the website and chatting about it.
Earlier you stated that you feel people here are "truely frightening", do you care to explain that a little more? Don't get me wrong, some people here are very opinionated, but I wouldn't call them "frightening". They are people who are standing up for your rights, all of them, even if you don't argee with this one right in particular.