We are currently constructing a new website. Please join our VERY active facebook group page for daily updates on WCI activities and right-to-carry related information : (Search Wisconsin Carry, Inc. from facebook) or www.facebook.com/groups/wisconsincarry
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the ability of law-abiding Wisconsin residents to legally carry in the manner of their choosing (open or concealed).
The Wisconsin Carry board convened today. We are advocating that our members all contact their senators and ask them to support Senate Bill 93. Under SB 93 you would be able to conceal carry without a permit EVERYWHERE where you currently open-carry without a permit. If you want to carry in the GFSZ (open or concealed), you will need to get the "optional" permit. The GFSZ are a significant issue and will require that people who choose the "constitutional carry" and not get a permit be very mindful of them especially in urban areas. Of course, the Federal GFSZ law does still exist and while it isn't currently enforced unless the feds were after you for something else, even if Wisconsin's GFSZ law was abolished, that should still be a concern for people. The only TRUE way to insulate you from the Federal GFSZ law would be to get a permit anyway. We don't trust the federal government enough to carry at will in school zones without a permit hoping they don't START enforcing them more widespread.
We have spoken with our largest ally in the State Senate and we truly believe we have pushed this cart as far up the hill as we can this session. We need to stake these gains off, get the modified constitutional carry bill passed before the July recall elections. If we choose to come out against SB 93 with the amendments, we have no bill and no advocate in the senate. We believe if passed with the amendments, SB 93 will give Wisconsin the 5th-best concealed carry law in the country behind only Arizona, Alaska, Vermont, and WY. Of course, our individual members as always make decisions for themselves, but as an organization, we believe we would be doing a disservice and risking all our progress to come against SB 93 with the new amendments.
We will continue to pursue every option (including the court system) to challenge the GFSZ statutes (fed and state) and future legislatures as well.
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the ability of law-abiding Wisconsin residents to legally carry in the manner of their choosing (open or concealed).
Last fall five Wisconsin Carry, Inc. members were peacefully enjoying dinner at a Madison area Culvers restaurant. Like thousands of Wisconsin residents, they carry a sidearm for self-defense as a daily practice in the only manner currently provided by Wisconsin law. After a 911 caller inquired as to the legality of open-carry, Madison police arrived en masse and illegally demanded identification from all five. Two members who politely declined to provide ID were wrongfully cited for obstruction of justice. (Wisconsin, a free state, does not require you produce identification when you have done nothing wrong.) Those citations were rescinded 2 days later and all 5 were mailed citations for disorderly conduct despite no evidence of a disturbance. Details of that initial incident are available on Wisconsin Carry's website www.wisconsincarry.org. Click on the Sept. 23rd 2010 blog heading for details including the audio of the 911 call.
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. filed a federal civil lawsuit against the City of Madison and Police Chief Noble Wray on September 29, 2010. That lawsuit can be viewed here: http://www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/Madison/MadisonComplaint.pdf
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. also retained, on behalf of our members, notable defense attorney Chris Van Wagner, principal of the Madison law firm Van Wagner & Wood to contest the wrongfully issued disorderly conduct citations.
Today, Wisconsin Carry is pleased to announce that Attorney Van Wagner has informed us that all of the charges against the "Madison 5" have been dismissed. According to Attorney Van Wagner "The Madison City Attorney agreed after a full review of the police investigation and 911 call that there was absolutely no disturbance created by our members and that the disorderly conduct citations were inappropriate". Van Wagner also added that "The ONLY disturbance created on that Saturday evening was by a mass of uniformed Madison police officers and squads arriving to investigate law-abiding citizens having dinner."
Questions about this incident and subsequent actions by Wisconsin Carry, Inc. and our attorney may be directed to Wisconsin Carry, Inc. or Attorney Chris Van Wagner. Wisconsin Carry, Inc. will shortly be filing a second civil lawsuit against Madison Police Chief Noble Wray and the City of Madison to obtain damages on behalf of our members for their wrongful detainment and costs associated with disposing of the citations.
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the ability of law-abiding Wisconsin residents to legally carry in the manner of their choosing (open or concealed).
Today the authoring was completed on Constitutional Carry legislation in Wisconsin from Senator Pam Galloway and Rep Jeff Mursau.
The bill has not yet been assigned a number, it is being circulated for CO-SPONSORS and can be viewed here: www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/bills/LRB-11-2007-1.pdf
Please contact your legislators TODAY and ask them to CO-SPONSOR the constitutional carry proposed legislation. (I believe you can reference it by the Legislative Reference Bureau number: LRB?2007/1)
THERE ARE ALSO 2 shall-issue permit type legislation bills that have been authored and are circulating. These alternative bills have a myriad of fee's and other mandates to go along with them. Those bills can be found here:
www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/bills/LRB-11-2027-1.pdf
www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/bills/LRB-11-2033-1.pdf
PLEASE contact your legislators today and ask them to support constitutional carry for Wisconsin. Your right to carry doesn't require taxes/permits/fee's/registration/government mandated training class, etc.
It is interesting to note that the constitutional carry bill is 19 pages. The other 2 bills, which create a massive amount of new legislation/requirements/fee's/fines/permits/registration, etc, are THREE TIMES as long. Freedom really is less complex than more government isn't it?
On Sunday July 4th, 2010, a law abiding Wisconsin woman, who was open carrying for personal protection during her daily activities, was illegally stopped and taken from her vehicle at gunpoint by Brookfield Police Officers after she was leaving a church service.
As open-carry is perfectly legal in Wisconsin and the officers were aware she (a Wisconsin Carry member) had threatened no one and caused no disturbance, the officers had no reasonable articulable suspicion (RAS) which the law requires, to stop and detain our member against her will. In addition, by drawing their guns on a law-abiding citizen who had done nothing wrong, the officers used an unlawful threat of deadly force during their detainment of our member. The police proceeded to, without reasonable suspicion or probable cause that any crime had occurred, conduct an illegal and unconstitutional search of our member's person and car. Our member was then unlawfully arrested and taken to the Brookfield Police Department for processing. No charges were ever filed.
On October 7th, 2010 Wisconsin Carry, Inc. filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Brookfield and 4 officers involved in the illegal arrest/search of our member. A copy of that lawsuit can be viewed here: www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/Brookfield/Doc_1_Complaint.pdf
Today, on behalf of Wisconsin Carry's thousands of members, in every county all across the state, and law-abiding citizens who legally exercise their right to carry in Wisconsin we are pleased to announce that a judgment of $7,500 has been entered in United States District Court against The City of Brookfield. A copy of this judgment can be viewed here
This $7,500 judgment against Brookfield follows a judgment of $10,000 that was entered against The City of Racine for a similar unlawful arrest of one of our members and subsequent lawsuit filed by Wisconsin Carry, Inc. in January of 2010. A copy of that judgment can be viewed here.
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. currently has pending federal lawsuits against The City of Madison, Madison Police Chief Noble Wray, The City of Milwaukee, The City of Manitowoc, and the City of Greenfield for actions that violate the constitutional rights of law-abiding Wisconsin residents who exercise their right to carry. A copy of those lawsuits can be viewed here:
Gun Free School Zone Complaint
Madison Complaint
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and reclamation of the rights of law-abiding Wisconsin residents to carry in the manner of their choosing. We believe that "open carry" and "concealed carry" are choices to be made by law-abiding citizens based on their situation and preference. Wisconsin Carry, like many gun-rights organizations in Wisconsin, is investing a great deal of resources to get Wisconsin law changed to allow concealed carry this next legislative session by proposing Constitutional Carry. Wisconsin Carry, Inc. will continue to use legal recourse to deter unlawful treatment of law-abiding Wisconsin residents who currently exercise their right to open carry, and soon will exercise their right to concealed carry in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. along with the United States Concealed Carry Association is please to announce the release of Wisconsin's first Constitutional Carry promotion commercial. In a joint effort between the United States Conceal Carry Association and Wisconsin Carry, Inc. this commercial has been developed to bring "constitutional carry" to Wisconsin in the next legislative session. Wisconsin WILL pass concealed carry legislation soon. It's up to you to decide if legislators should tack on government registration and expensive permit taxes to that law or not.
This commercial will be running on the RADIO in the Milwaukee market TODAY during Mark Behling and Vicki McKenna's shows. http://www.newstalk1130.com
Please share this video with all of your freedom minded friends in Wisconsin.
The video will direct you to www.nocarrypermits.com which redirects you to www.wisconsinccw.org
On the www.wisconsinccw.org site you can find the commercial along with an action plan for constitutional carry in Wisconsin. (make sure to scroll down the entire page)ALSO, please sign the constitutional carry petition on that page!
There is also an option to donate from that page as well as at the top of the Wisconsin Carry, Inc. page. (click donation tab/button) ALL donations will go to the constitutional carry effort in Wisconsin INCLUDING expanding the radio campaign to other markets in Wisconsin.
We know money is tight during the holidays, but please consider a donation to this cause. A small donation today to promote constitutional carry in Wisconsin can save you HUNDREDS down the road in permit taxes, expensive mandated government training and permit renewal taxes. With your help, we will let our legislators know that LAW-ABIDING Wisconsinites shouldn't have to register with the government and pay hundreds of dollars in taxes and government training mandates in order to discreetly carry a handgun for self-defense.
We are pleased to announce that Wisconsin Carry Inc. will be partnering with the United States Conceal Carry Association to bring Constitutional Carry to Wisconsin. Wisconsin Carry, Inc. was contacted by the president of the USCCA today who inquired as to whether Wisconsin Carry would be willing to work with them to bring constitutional carry to Wisconsin. We politely responded HELL YES.
Here is a link to the USCCA and also a specific link to their Constitution Carry for Wisconsin website.
The president of the USCCA believes the time is right. The USCCA is putting their FULL support behind TRUE constitution carry in Wisconsin. The USCCA has a huge in-state and national footprint and their support will have a HUGE impact on this effort. We believe the odds of no permit right to conceal in Wisconsin this next legislative session just got A LOT better.
This will still not be easy. Sr. Staffers of the "old blood" in the Wisconsin legislature have expressed to me that they DO support non-permit right to carry "in principle" but they are convinced that it is impractical to go from no right to CC to constitution carry in Wisconsin. Until we speak with the legislators officially, we will give them an opportunity to reconsider their position before we initiate pressure on them and name names.
We can also confirm that a segment of the firearm instructor lobby in Wisconsin and MN IS already actively lobbying legislators in Madison for "mandatory training."
In addition, we are waiting for an "official" response from a few other notable groups in Wisconsin. Not that their support is essential, but it would be nice to have a unanimous front.
We would like to encourage any members of the Wisconsin Concealed Carry Assosiation (WCCA), or anyone else who would just like to help, to please contact Bill Schmitz and ask him and the WCCA to support constitution carry in Wisconsin. Bill is a good guy, and he has been very supportive of Wisconsin Carry from the beginning. He is planning to confer with the WCCA board over the next few weeks and see what their official position will be. Obviously, a year ago, no one had any idea Wisconsin would have a republican governor, senate, and assembly, so they are re-evaluating their game plan. Wisconsin Carry, Inc. believes it would be very helpful to have their support. Contact information for Bill and the WCCA from their website:
www.wisconsinconcealedcarry.com
WCCA
N3292 County Rd E
REDGRANITE, WI 54970
BY PHONE: 920.295.9435
BY EMAIL: info @ wisconsinconcealedcarry.com
BOARD MEMBERS:
Bill Schmitz, Chairman
bill.schmitz @ wisconsinconcealedcarry.com
We would like to encourage everybody to drop Bill a quick note and thank him for his support of gun rights in Wisconsin in the past and ask that he lobby the WCCA board to support constitution carry in Wisconsin.
Carry On!
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. files federal lawsuit against the City of Brookfield and 4 Brookfield Police officers
A copy of this lawsuit is available here:
Our member who has been a victim of violent crime in the past openly carries a sidearm for personal protection as Wisconsin law allows. On July 4th she was attending church services in Brookfield, WI. After the service, a church member called the non-emergency number of the Brookfield Police Department to inquire as to the legality of open-carry. Brookfield Police responded to the call by sending several officers/squads to the church. On the way to the church the officers were made aware by the dispatcher that our member was not being threatening or creating a disturbance. As our member was leaving the parking lot in her vehicle. A Brookfield Police officer waved her down drew his weapon and ordered her out of her car at gunpoint.
As open-carry is perfectly legal in Wisconsin and the officers were aware our member had threatened no one and caused no disturbance, the officers had no reasonable articulable suspicion, which the law requires, to stop and detain our member against her will. In addition, by drawing their guns on a law-abiding citizen who had done nothing wrong, the officers used an unlawful threat of deadly force during their unlawful detainment of our member. The police proceeded to, without reasonable suspicion or probable cause that any crime had occurred, conduct an unlawful and unconstitutional search of our members person and car. Our member was then unlawfully arrested and taken to the Brookfield Police Department for processing.
Wisconsin Carry has filed this lawsuit to obtain damages on behalf of our member for the unlawful arrest and violations of her civil rights by the Brookfield Police Department. On behalf of our members all across the state, Wisconsin Carry continues to establish a precedent that departments who violate the rights of law-abiding Wisconsinites who legally carry in the only manner Wisconsin Law allows "open carry" will face legal consequences.
In a virtually identical situation in San Diego, CA a person lawfully open carrying was detained/arrested in a similar manner. Within the last few weeks that case resulted in a $35,000 settlement from the City of San Diego paid to the man unlawfully arrested at gunpoint. Details of that case can be viewed here:
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. has also obtained a $10,000 judgement in Federal Court against the city of Racine earlier this year for an unlawful arrest of one of our members who was approached by police merely because he was legally open carrying.
Wisconsin Carry is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the protection and expansion of the right to carry in Wisconsin. We believe that "conceal carry" and "open carry" are choices to be made by the law-abiding citizen based on their own preference, not the government's. As open carry is generally the only legal way to exercise the right to carry in Wisconsin provided by our state and federal constitution, we advocate that people who wish to carry follow the law and open carry while our organization seeks to expand the right right to carry in Wisconsin to include conceal carry. Our website is www.wisconsincarry.org
On September 29th, Wisconsin Carry, Inc filed a Federal lawsuit against the City of Madison and Madison Police Chief Noble Wray.
A copy of this lawsuit is available here
The City of Madison may not deny individuals the right to carry handguns in nonsensitive places, deprive individuals of the right to carry handguns in an arbitrary and capricious manner, or enforce its laws, customs and practices through its police department or impose regulations on the right to carry handguns that are inconsistent with the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, § 25 of the Wisconsin Constitution.
On Saturday, September 18, 2010, five (5) members of WCI met for dinner at a Culvers Restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin. Each of these individuals was openly carrying a handgun when they arrived at the restaurant, entered the restaurant and ordered and ate their meals. At or about the time that the WCI members finished their meal and left the restaurant, a woman in her car observed them openly carrying handguns and called 911 to report it to the City of Madison Police Department. The 911 caller informed the dispatcher that she didn't know if it was an emergency, the men were doing nothing wrong and appeared totally relaxed, weren't threatening anyone and the restaurant was full of people but they each had sidearms and she didn't know if that was legal.
Upon being informed by the 911 dispatcher that open-carry is legal the woman stated "then there is no problem and its not an emergency". The dispatcher then suggests that if the woman is concerned or disturbed then it becomes a problem and the woman says "no they weren't threatening anybody or acting threatening". When the dispatcher informs the caller they are sending officers she says "well I feel bad then because they weren't doing anything wrong"
Listen to the 911 call here:
As these WCI members left the restaurant, they were accosted by eight(8) City of Madison police officers, who demanded that they produce identification, and threatened that if they did not do so, they would be arrested. From the time that these WCI members arrived at the restaurant up to and including the time that the police officers confronted them and demanded that they produce identification or face arrest, none of the WCI members violated any law, nor were they involved in any violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct, nor did they through their conduct cause or provoke any disturbance.
Wisconsin law does not allow officers to arrest for merely refusing to provide ID. 2 days later, Madison Police admitted the error in arresting and charging our members with obstruction, rescinded those tickets and instead, despite there being no disturbance, and no laws broken, issued disorderly conduct charges to all 5 of our members.
The Madison Police Department also issued a press release which relayed a department procedure which would violate the rights of law-abiding open-carriers who would choose to go legally armed for self-defense in Madison. The press release can be read here:
By arresting our members without cause and issuing a press release detailing a policy of violating the rights of other law-abiding open-carriers who should choose to carry in Madison, Wisconsin Carry immediately took action to file a lawsuit to prevent this chilling effect on the right to Carry in Madison. We look forward to the precedent this lawsuit will set.
Those who work, live, or travel to Madison are entitled to the same rights as the rest of the state. Wisconsin has a state and federal constitutionally guaranteed right to carry. Open-carry is the only legal way to carry in this state. Wisconsin's attorney general verified the legality of open-carry in a memo to all police chiefs and district attorney's in 2009. The City of Madison may not deny individuals the right to carry handguns in nonsensitive places, deprive individuals of the right to carry handguns in an arbitrary and capricious manner, or enforce its laws, customs and practices through its police department or impose regulations on the right to carry handguns that are inconsistent with the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, § 25 of the Wisconsin Constitution.
The financial support from across the country extended to Wisconsin Carry which allows us the resources to file this lawsuit has been exceptional. On behalf of WCI, our members, and freedom minded Wisconsinites who embrace the right to carry we wish to offer a special thank-you to Buckeye Firearms Foundation.
BFF is a tax-exempt foundation which collected and matched donations from people across the country totaling over $7,500 through their website:
Wisconsin Carry is a non-profit 100% volunteer organization dedicated to the protection and expansion of the right of law-abiding Wisconsinites to carry in the manner of their choosing; open carry or concealed carry.
Wisconsin Carry, Inc fast-tracking lawsuit against Madison Police Department
On Saturday September 18th, Wisconsin Carry received a call to our hotline about an incident in progress at a Culvers Restaurant in Madison, WI.
5 of our members who had met at previous WCI events and on the opencarry.org discussion forum planned to get together for dinner at Culvers Restaurant near East Towne in Madison, WI. They were, of course, open-carrying as they do every day.
Based on information gathered over the past several days here are the facts of the case:
Our members had finished dinner and were outside preparing to leave when 8 Madison Police officers arrived and began to demand ID. Officers told the members that if they did not produce ID they would be arrested.
2 of the 5 declined to provide ID. Wisconsin law does NOT allow officers to demand ID from individuals who have done nothing wrong. Wisconsin law also specifically does not allow officers to arrest an individual who has done nothing wrong for merely refusing to show ID.
2 of our members were subsequently arrested and charged with obstructing.
It was later learned that a 62 year old woman in the restaurant had called 911 and inquired as to whether it was legal for people to openly carry firearms. The caller indicated there was no disturbance but she was "worried". Madison Police responded, by informing the caller that open-carry is legal, (listen to the call here) and then dispatched 8 officers to respond to a peaceful situation.
It is a person's choice whether or not they wish to provide the police their ID when they have done nothing wrong. Without knowing the motivation of officers who are aggressively demanding ID and threatening arrest, its understandable why a person who has done nothing wrong would want to maintain their privacy. Its IMPERATIVE that police follow the law. Police are not allowed to arrest you for merely failing to provide ID. If the police can operate outside of the law, it does us NO good to vote and elect legislators to represent us and pass laws if the police will make-up and enforce whatever they feel like enforcing.
Wisconsin Carry fully expected that on Monday morning, those with an education in the law would return to their office from the weekend and promptly recognize the error made by the officers on the scene.
Madison Police DID recognize their error and rescinded the tickets for obstruction that were issued to 2 of our members. Madison Police admit in a press release those tickets were given in error. Madison Police then issued Disorderly Conduct citations to ALL 5 of our members. According to Madison Police, if ONE person is 'worried', even though there is no disturbance, your constitutional rights mean nothing. Wisconsin's Attorney General CLEARLY stated in a memo in April of 2009 that open-carry IS NOT disorderly conduct.
Madison Police then continued their disregard for Wisconsin residents constitutional rights by issuing a statement indicating that Madison police will: Approach anyone who is open-carrying using "the proper tactical response. The individual should be contacted, controlled, and frisked for weapons if appropriate. Officers should separate the suspect from any weapons in his/her possession during the encounter."
Read the press release here:
Madison Police Department Open Carry Policy
As such, Wisconsin Carry will be fast-tracking a federal lawsuit against the Madison Police Department for this policy which is a blatant and defenseless violation of the rights of law-abiding citizens who are doing nothing wrong.
Wisconsin Carry will also, if needed, retain an attorney to challenge the Disorderly Conduct citations issued to 5 of our members.
Wisconsin Carry feels this is a fundamental issue, and a situation that has implications for every resident in the state of Wisconsin. Police Departments all across the state have received the AG memo and responded accordingly training officers in the appropriate and lawful response to a law-abiding citizen open-carrying. Madison MUST be held to the same standard. Wisconsin law apply's to everyone in the state, not just those outside of Madison. Its imperative that the Madison Police Department follow the law. Very soon, we expect Wisconsinites to have the ability to legally conceal carry. If police do not respect the legal right to open-carry we already have, how can we expect them to respect the right to conceal carry that we all seek as well?
WE NEED YOUR HELP.
In order to get this lawsuit filed quickly, we need donations to fund the legal fee's.If you can donate specifically for the "Madison 5" lawsuit please visit our homepage:
On the main page you will see a "Donate" button where you can make a donation that will go specifically to this "Madison 5" lawsuit.
You may also mail a donation to:
Wisconsin Carry, Inc.
P.O. Box 270403
Milwaukee, WI 53227
This incident has received a huge amount of attention from the media. Its possible it may even garner national attention in the near future.
Many discussions regarding the incident, and links to media coverage of the incident are taking place on the discussion forums at opencarry.org:
You may also follow this and other Wisconsin Carry activities by joining Wisconsin Carry's facebook group: Search "Wisconsin Carry, Inc" or "Wisconsin Carry" on facebook.
If you haven't already done so, we also invite you to officially join Wisconsin Carry from out website as well. Membership is $15 for the first year.
Please spread this information to other online gun forums etc as we seek to protect and expand the rights of Wisconsin residents to carry.
Wisconsin Carry, Inc is a non-profit all volunteer organization. We are dedicated to the protection and expansion of the rights of law-abiding Wisconsinites to carry in the manner of their choosing. We believe that "open carry" or "conceal carry" are choices to be made by YOU the law abiding citizen based on what suits your needs. As open-carry is (with a few exceptions where conceal carry is already found legal) the only way to currently carry in Wisconsin, we advocate that all who wish to carry follow state law while we pursue an expansive conceal carry right for all law-abiding Wisconsinites during the next legislative session.
Carry On,
A political victory for carry rights in Wisconsin
For immediate release:
One of Wisconsin Carry's Founders Club Members Dave "Ole" Olson is a delegate with the Wisconsin Republican party who participated in the Wisconsin Republican Party convention in Milwaukee May 21 - 23, 2010.
Dave is a very strong advocate for true carry rights and he has been working actively along with other delegates to make some important changes to the Republican platform.
This document summarizes what has occurred at the GOP State Convention with the official Republican platform.
Two things to notice:
| Thirteen (13) Counties overwhelmingly voted against removing the "permit" language. (Burnett, Chippewa, Forest, Green, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Portage, Racine, Richland, Sawyer, Waushara). If you are a resident of any of these thirteen (13) counties, we urge you to contact the party leadership and urge them to fully support the platform. |
| Twenty Six (26) Counties voted unanimously in favor of removing the "permit" language. (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Calumet, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Jackson, Juneau, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Rusk, Sauk, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vilas, Washburn) |
Wisconsin Carry and our membership hopes to continue to expand the ability to exercise the rights our state and federal constitution re-affirm through all available methods, political, legislative, legal/judicial, public awareness and any other effective means.
Thank-you to Ole for his efforts within the Wisconsin Republican Party and to Tom Irwin and Hudson Mayor Dean Knudson who spear headed the effort.
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. adds new member to Board of Directors
For immediate release:
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. is pleased to announce that Joseph Louis Olson, has been appointed to our Board of Directors. See the official press release here.
Mr. Olson is a trial attorney and a member of the Litigation Practice Group of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. Mr. Olson's talents have been recognized by his inclusion in Milwaukee Magazine's list of "Rising Stars" in 2006, 2008 and 2009. Inclusion on this list is limited to the top 2.5% of Wisconsin Attorneys under the age of 40. Mr. Olson's principled legal expertise will be a valuable asset to Wisconsin Carry, our membership, and the carry rights of law-abiding Wisconsin gun owners.
Founded in 1848, Mr. Olson's firm Michael Best & Friedrich has a reputation as a leading law firm in the Midwest. Gun-rights advocates in Wisconsin will be familiar with Michael Best & Friedrich as attorneys from this firm successfully argued Wisconsin's prohibition on concealed carry was unconstitutional as applied to Mr. Hamdan in the landmark State of Wisconsin v. Hamdan. That case for the first time recognized that Wisconsinites have a constitutional right to concealed carry in certain situations.
Wisconsin Carry was incorporated in November of 2009 to preserve and expand the rights of law-abiding Wisconsinites to carry weapons for self-defense in the method of their choosing. Wisconsin Carry filed a federal lawsuit on January 8th to challenge the constitutionality of Wisconsin's Gun-Free-School-Zone statute. On March 5th 2010, Wisconsin Carry was awarded a $10,000 judgment against the City of Racine and 2 Racine Police officers who unlawfully infringed on the rights of one of our members while he was open-carrying.
Wisconsin Carry is the fastest growing gun-rights organization in Wisconsin.