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Walk In The Park -- After action report - See attached PDF's

bobcul

Regular Member
Joined
May 19, 2008
Messages
24
Location
Maryland - Wyoming
Friends,

The Independence Day (actually all week) Walk In The Park is over and here is the report.
I am sending two items directly so you can see what happened and what you missed.

First; attached is the WITP handout flyer we provided to the folks we met
and who had questions It is a general information item to use to
fill them in on the activity. It is designed to evoke serious thought and questions.
Please comment on this. What do you think?

Second; is a write-up on the weeks activities. As the flyer said
July 4 through 11 was firearm education week and we educated a
bunch of folks. The write-up actually covers the whole 2+ week trip
which turned out to have much more gun related stuff than just the WITP.

Enjoy !

It always happens, and this two weeks was no exception, that if you
somehow trigger the discussion about guns, you draw a lot of
folks out to talk on that subject. Hopefully that gets them
talking to others.

Every side comment from the passing strangers (except for the
crazy lady - read the write-up) was a positive comment and
started conversations which others nearby overheard or joined in
on.

Contacts with area officials were all very positive and
supporting the open carry message.

Yes, I know that in Wyoming the carrying of firearms is nothing
unusual; but there are a lot of visitors around who were curious
and a few local folks too who either joined the effort or
discussed it and hopefully they also talked to a lot of others.

For me however, this was a whole new experience. Being from Maryland, where I have
had to fight for our firearm rights, OpenCarry is prohibited; This was my first time in the field.

If you have any feedback, thoughts or comments on this
Independence Day week activities, good bad or otherwise, let me
know. Please forward this message to those you think would enjoy it or
should see it.

Next year, WITP will include a Walk In The Parade.

Bob
 

Attachments

  • TRI-FOLD V2.3 - IS LIFE JUST A WALK IN THE PARK.pdf
    94.2 KB · Views: 181
  • EVENT WRITE-UP Just a Walk In The Park.pdf
    150.7 KB · Views: 304

petrophase

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
300
Location
Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
Nice narrative! I'm glad things went well for you - it's good to know that the vibe I felt in Buffalo (previous post) is not the norm.
I'm also originally from MD (Baltimore) :| . I currently live in western SD (Rapid City), and I spend a lot of time in WY, particularly the Bighorns. My fiance and I were OCing while we fished at Jenny Lake not long after you folks were there. To bad about Chicago Lady - I can empathize, though. Tourist are thick as mosquitoes here in the Black Hills, and most of the googly eyes I get are from folks from Illinois or the Northeast...
 

DrTodd

Michigan Moderator
Joined
Jun 20, 2008
Messages
3,272
Location
Hudsonville , Michigan, USA
Sounds like you had fun! Welcome to freedom.
BTW, the person who wrote the "Open Carry is more than Open Carry" is none other than Venator on the Michigan sub-forum.

I'll have to send him a link to your post. Glad to hear that the people from Michigan were pro-firearm. That anti's behavior is just insane. Whoever mentioned Illinois is right: the last time I was near Lawrence, Michigan (which has a huge number of people from Illinois who vacation in the area), their mouths just dropped open when I walked OC into the McDonalds to grab a burger before heading home. They were even more shocked when the LEOS in the parking lot waved hello to me as I walked out to my car :D
 

AB

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2007
Messages
240
Location
ACTIVIST Cheyenne, Wyoming
Vendors don't have a right to prohibit on public land.

"HOWEVER, I noticed a NO Firearms sign posted at
entrances. I confirmed that this was the choice of the Park
concessionaire and not because it was an official occupied park office"

FYI if the vendor is on public land they do not have a right to do this.

This isn't like a storefront that is on mainstreet, this vendor is on land that belongs to "we the people". If they don't like it they can close up shop and buy or rent in the private sector.

There are cases where "public property" was leased out to a vendor and the vendor says "no guns", then it is revealed that the public center was built with public monies.

It was this very same issue of "who does the land belong too" that put a halt to this private gun regulation.
 
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bobcul

Regular Member
Joined
May 19, 2008
Messages
24
Location
Maryland - Wyoming
Private property - leased property issues

This is an interesting point and I never thought of it that way. If anyone has some case histories on business on public land restricting access, please post them.

First off, we were going to enjoy our dinner there and I was looking forward to having a beer, so I did not carry. I am not sure what the law is regarding drinking and carrying in Wyoming. I believe that it allows for doing so but not for being impaired and carrying. HOWEVER, personally I chose to not carry while drinking. As I learn more, that may change.

I had discussions with the town Chief of Police regarding Wyoming law and businesses (Yes, Leeks Marina is WAY out of his jurisdiction). Generally a posted "No Guns" sign at a business or property has no force of law for any private business. If the business asks you to leave, and you do not, then a trespass complaint can be brought. I understood this beforehand and in our discussion I mentioned that I would most likely not be in that position and if I were I would gather information from the business (to report in my writings) and then comply.

BTW, I did carry into Moo's Gourmet Ice cream right across the corner from the pancake breakfast, not for the ice cream but to look at the wall full of paintball guns. Apparently this is the home of Team Suppressor paint ball gang.

Now, as to a concessionaire on the park land, you have a good point. I think the same trespass complaint could be brought. While we were having dinner, some folks came in from the marina onto the outdoor deck carrying their own cans of beer and the staff reminded them that it violated their liquor license provisions and asked them to remove the containers from the deck. They were not shy about enforcing a rule. A cordial solution was reached.

This situation with the concessionaires should be researched to be sure of the law; I think the case, if you are asked to leave and refuse, that trespass could be brought is the correct one, but lets be sure. Anyone have a good source with the National Park Service to ask this one?

In closing, this was my first time carrying, I consider it a learning experience and want to share it with others to also learn and to learn from them by their experiences and knowledge. That is why I took the effort to confirm that the concessionaire chose to post the property, that it was NOT a park employee office. Of the few concessionaires I visited, this was the only one that was posted this way.

Comments on this are welcome.

In closing, remember the short article about the guy in Denali defending against a Grizzly with a 1911? Just a few days ago some campers were attacked near northern Yellowstone park, one killed and two injured. Some anti-gun folks continue to try to argue needs and wants. The answer is you Want to be prepared if the NEED ever arises.

Bob
 
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Sig229

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
926
Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
That was a wonderful post!

I too was raised in Maryland and have lived in Wyoming. I kn ow what your feeling right now, that freedom has not been totally lost in this county, correct?

Anyhow, keep up the great posts!
 
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AB

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2007
Messages
240
Location
ACTIVIST Cheyenne, Wyoming
This is an interesting point and I never thought of it that way. If anyone has some case histories on business on public land restricting access, please post them.

Bob

Here is a recent incident from Colorado - Of course it is a ref to county property, but the same principles should apply.

When I get time I will review the federal statute and see if we can make it stick.

http://www.ammoland.com/2010/05/24/colorado-right-to-carry/



Anthony
 
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