Three weekends ago, two local Appleton Wisconsin residents brought loaded, semi-automatic AR-15 rifles to our local farmer's market simply to prove that they had the constitutional right to do so. This market is like so many others around the country, open to the public, filled with families and children. Local citizens did exactly what they were supposed to do: they called 911. The police arrived, determined that the weapons were genuine, and briefly handcuffed the guys until they could determine their intentions. Rational, right?
The police determined several minutes later that they could not detain the men as Wisconsin's state statutes allow for "open carry" of any handgun or rifle (including AR-15 assault style rifles), even within 1000 feet of a school. This has ruffled many-a-feather in our quiet, safe, home-spun community.
Ironically, the City of Appleton has a municipal ordinance that prohibits live chickens from being kept within city limits (even at farmer's markets) as they are considered a health hazard by some. So a group of residents from the neighborhood that borders the downtown area staged a "Chicken v. Assault Weapon" event to raise awareness of this ridiculous application of the law. The fine for carrying a loaded AR-15 assault rifle carries a fine of $0; the fine for carrying a live chicken carries a fine of $263.50.
Hilarity ensues below the nest:
Here's TV coverage from one of the four major local affiliates that covered the event:
http://www.fox11online.com/...
And here's the mini-documentary the group created for the event (note the footage of the guy with the rifle strapped to his back in front of the CHILDREN'S MUSEUM complaining about the safety of chickens, and the accidental discharge):
http://terminalcaseofwhimsy.blogspot.com/