WI: Open Carrier Exercises Rights in Germantown

Open Carry in Arizona

A man in Germantown was accosted by police for exercising his rights on Saturday.   William Polster was carrying a holstered pistol and a shotgun on a sling on his back.   He says that he carries the firearms to educate the public about their rights and for personal protection.

Police claim that some people called them and were upset.  This is certainly possible, but in other cases, such as with the Culver 5 in Madison, and with open carrier in Michigan, calls turned out to be mostly asking the police whether open carry was legal or not, something that furthers the education effort that that Mr. Polster said that he is trying to accomplish.  From 620wtmj.com:

 Police realized Polster was exercising his right to open carry. Since he wasn't breaking any laws, they let him go.

The education effort appears to be working with the police.   It was not reported that they pulled guns on Mr. Polster, knocked him to the ground, or handcuffed him as they have done with a number of other open carriers.   Several settlements of thousands of dollars have gone from city budgets to open carriers who have been victimized in this way.  It is clear that the police understood that this was a citizen exercising their rights, and not a criminal or crazy person.  Hint for those who have not considered this: Mr. Polster was not shooting or pointing the firearms at anyone.  He did not even have them in his hands.

People may believe that the police are being insensitive and are trying to chill the exercise of a constitutional right.

Mr. Polster says that he is going to keep carrying firearms openly, and exercising those rights.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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