Armed Voter Intimidation in Wisconsin?

If you wonder why I prefer the UK to the US.  Yesterday's referendum was carried out in a peaceful manner, despite strong sentiments on both sides.

On the other hand, it seems that in the US some people feel that they have a right to prevent people from voting.  I believe there are federal laws which prevent this sort of activity, but still:

In Wisconsin, it is a Class I felony to use or threaten to use force, violence, or restraint to compel a person to vote or not vote in an election. It is also a felony to impede or prevent someone’s ability to vote in an election, to bribe voters, or to coerce someone to vote for a particular candidate or ballot measure.

Voter intimidation is also illegal under federal law. The Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act make it a crime for election officials to attempt to “intimidate, threaten, or coerce” anyone from voting or attempting to vote, or registering to vote.

Call the police immediately if you see these people.

In fact, contact and file a report with the DoJ's Civil Rights Division:

• www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/misc/contact.php

And

• Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board (in charge of elections)

The facebook page has been mirrored.

"Law abiding gun owners", my arse.

The more I see of you, the more I am convinced that the US needs strong gun regulations.  The pro-gun side is the best argument for strong gun control.

See also:
Legal Protections Against Voter Intimidation in Wisconsin.pdf
Government Accountability Board | STATE OF WISCONSIN
Voter Intimidation Complaints | Government Accountability Board

Multiple Children Hurt in Two Accidental Shootings

Local news reports

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett visited Bradley Tech High School to speak with students about gun violence following a shooting that injured five kids.

Police say several people in the basement were handling a shotgun loaded with bird shot when the gun went off. The victims range in age from 11 to 17. Investigators are questioning the people who were in the basement and say they're not getting a lot of cooperation. 

Mayor Barrett says shootings like these underscore the need for adults in this community to act responsibility with their guns. "If you have a gun you have to have it locked up so children don't have access to it," says Barrett.

How about if the owner of the gun finds himself in the slammer?  Wouldn't that carry the message a bit better than these continual warnings that the gun owners should lock up their guns?

Wisconsin Concealed Carry Permit Holder, Responsible for a Dropped Gun Discharge is Arrested

Local news reports

Racine police say two individuals have turned themselves in after a gun went off inside Burlington Coat Factory on Saturday, December 7th.

Police say a man and woman were shopping inside the store when the man took off his coat and handed it to the woman. At some point, police say a handgun fell out of the coat pocket, landed on the floor and a round was discharged.

Police say a metal fixture in the store was struck — but no one was injured.

Police say the man picked up the gun and both parties fled the store.

Images of the two were captured on surveillance video, and on Sunday, after the man and woman saw their photos online, they turned themselves in to Racine police.

Police say 34-year-old Marvin Jackson of Milwaukee, a valid CCW permit holder was arrested for recklessly endangering safety/negligent handling of a dangerous weapon.

Gun-rights Advocates Oppose Madison Wisconsin Bus Ban

Seattle pi

Gun-rights advocates say they're preparing a court challenge to Metro Transit's weapons ban on city buses, claiming the policy violates the state's concealed-carry law. But city officials say they're confident the policy banning "weapons of any kind" is legal and in the best interest of passengers.

Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Carry Inc. said Friday it plans to file a lawsuit in the next few weeks, theWisconsin State Journal reported (http://bit.ly/1d2pyRF ). President Nik Clark said the policy infringes on a person's right to carry, especially for those who rely on public transportation or live in a high-crime area.

"Madison has a gun law stricter than state law," Clark said. "If we are successful in Madison, other transit systems in the state will follow suit and adjust their policies."

Clark said his organization wanted to challenge the city's policy for some time but had to wait until it heard from someone with a concealed-carry license who'd been prohibited from bringing a gun on a bus. That happened last month, he said.

The lawsuit is based on a state law that Gov. Scott Walker signed in July 2011. It allows people to apply for a license that lets them to carry a concealed gun and carry a gun openly in a school zone, and Clark said anyone who has a license should be able to carry a gun, concealed or in the open, on city buses as well.

Madison officials don't think so, noting that the policy predated the concealed-carry law.

"We don't want guns on buses just like we don't let people bring gasoline on buses," City Attorney Michael May said.

Wisconsin Man Gets 7 Years for Accidental Shooting

William Petty, 24, of La Crosse was convicted by a jury July 26 of shooting a man in the neck.

Madison dot com

Listen, if you're gonna shoot someone by accident, don't be a convicted felon, don't be a heroin dealer, don't try to destroy evidence and above all, don't be black. Otherwise, you might have to pay for your negligence like this guy.

Nobody's Checking - Exactly What the Gun-Rights Fanatics Like

Wisconsin Squirrel Hunter Dead

Local news reports

Authorities say the squirrel hunter accidentally shot to death near Wausau last weekend was mistaken by another hunter for a squirrel.

The Marathon County sheriff’s department identified the victim as 29-year-old Xou Chang of Wausau.

Sheriff Scott Parks says that Chang was shot by his friend, a 32-year-old man from Wausau.

The sheriff says Chang had two dead squirrels next to him on a stump, and his friend thought he saw movement and fired.

Chang was in a hunting party of three and was struck in the head from about 50 yards away last Sunday.

The shooting happened on private land. Autopsy results are pending.

Gun-Toting Wisconsin Tourist Arrested with a Gun at Ground Zero - She Forgot She Had It

The New York Post

A gun-toting Wisconsin tourist, caught entering the 9/11 Memorial with a loaded firearm over the weekend, said she simply “forgot” she had the piece in her bag, officials said Monday.

Ursula Jerry, 41, of Milwaukee, made her first appearance in court following her arrest Sunday at Ground Zero.

Jerry, charged with criminal possession of a weapon, put her bag on the 9/11 Memorial’s X-ray machine when security officers spotted a .38-caliber Kel-Tec semiautomatic with two rounds in the magazine, officials said.

Jerry told security officers she brought with her on the Amtrak  that brought her here from Wisconsin.

“It’s my gun. I forgot I had this,”  Jerry said, according to prosecutors.

Jerry has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, said prosecutors, who plan to bring this case to a grand jury.

Defense lawyer Annie Costanzo said she’s been in contact Jerry’s relatives in Chicago, who promised their troubled loved one will make all court appearances in New York if she makes bail.

“Everything she said was truthful,” Costanzo said. “There was no indication of a threat of violence … [and she] certainly had no history of criminal violence.”

A judge set Jerry’s bail at $30,000 and ordered her back to court on Friday.

Wisconsin Republicans Support Gun Laws

Wisconsin Watch

In early August, amid a wave of carnage in Milwaukee, something remarkable occurred: A Republican state lawmaker called for new legislation to address gun violence, and Republican Gov. Scott Walker said the measure, sought by Milwaukee’s mayor and chief of police, had his support.

“I’m more than willing to talk with law enforcement here or anywhere else about creating mandatory minimum sentences for people who illegally possess a firearm,” Walker said, so long as the rights of others are not curtailed. “I’m all for that.”

At issue is a bill now being drafted for state Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, to mandate a three-year prison term for illegal firearm possession. Darling said she acted after talking with law enforcement officials in Milwaukee, where 23 people were shot, seven fatally, during a single week in early August.

Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn “couldn’t be more pleased with the apparent bipartisan support” for tougher gun-related penalties, says chief of staff Joel Plant. Flynn wants tougher rules for habitual criminals who carry weapons or commit gun crimes. A habitual criminal, by state statute, is anyone with one prior felony or three misdemeanor convictions within the past five years. 

Plant says this will mean amending the state’s concealed carry law to bar persons who meet this test from obtaining a license to pack heat. Currently, most kinds of misdemeanor convictions cannot be used to deny a concealed carry license.

In fact, even if the change Barrett and Flynn want is adopted, a person with two misdemeanor convictions for carrying a concealed gun without a license could still obtain one on request.

Imagine that having two or three misdemeanor convictions DOES NOT prevent one from getting a concealed carry permit.  And the gun-rights fanatics wonder why we're skeptical about the supposed safety record of permit holders.

Wisconsin seems to be on track to make some improvements.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Accidental Shooting in Wisconsin - Granddad Shoots Grandson - No Charges

Local news reports

A Racine teen was reportedly shot Wednesday by his grandfather in Adams County, in an apparent target shooting accident, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

The 14-year-old Racine boy was reportedly shot in the abdomen Wednesday evening while on vacation in the Town of Strongs Prairie, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

He was target shooting with relatives when he was reportedly shot by his 64-year-old grandfather, who was handling a handgun, according to law enforcement.

The shooting, which happened at approximately 6 p.m. Wednesday, appears to be accidental, said Sgt. Mike Kroetz of the Sheriff’s Office.

"Appears to be accidental," are code words for "oh, well, these things happen, no problem."

What do you think?  Please leave  a comment.

Cudahy, Wisconsin Man Facing Criminal Charges after Shooting Cousin

 

CBS

26-year-old Brandon M. Kronquist is charged with Injury by negligent handing of dangerous weapon after allegedly shooting his cousin in the back. Kronquist tells police the shooting that occurred in his mobile home was completely accidental.

Cudahy police responded to reports of a shootiing on the 5900 block of S. Packard Ave. They arrived to find John Kronquist bleeding from a gunshot wound to the back.

Brandon Kronquist told officers, "it was an accident". He  initially told officers he went to put his gun on top of the refridgerator, because he didn't want to sit and eat with the gun in his pocket. He later told officers he pulled the gun out of his pocket jokingly making a quickdraw motion, and the gun went off.

 

According to the complaint, Kronquist appeared very disturbed and bothered by what occurred to his cousin and continually asked about the status and condition of John. He told police he felt sick about what happened and was very concerned about his cousin. 

 

Upon conviction for this offense, a Class I Felony, Brandon Kronquist could be fined up to $10,000 and serve up to may be fined no more than three and a half years in prison.

 

Wow, what could account for the seriousness with which they're handling this case? Maybe the arresting officers don't like people who live in trailers or have beards.

 

"Injury by negligent handing of dangerous weapon," a "Class I Felony" should be standard fare for all negligent shootings.

 

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

 

 

Wisconsin Local News Looks at the 2nd Amendment

Local news in Wisconsin

Accidental Shooting of Wisconsin 9-Year-old by his 11-Year-old Brother - No Charges

Local news reports

A 9-year-old boy was injured Saturday afternoon in Pierce County when he was accidentally shot by his older brother.

After being notified of a juvenile male with a gunshot wound shortly after 4:30 p.m., Pierce County Sheriff’s Department deputies discovered an 11-year-old boy had been unloading a handgun inside the residence when it accidentally went off and struck his 9-year-old brother in the leg.

The sheriff’s department is investigating the incident.

Dad should have been in jail that same night.What the hell kind of investigation is needed to determine whose gun it was? That kind of thing is done at the scene within minutes.

The problem is "accidental" shootings are taken too lightly. When they involve kids in any way, it's a double blunder to nonchalantly write them off.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Wisconsin Deer Season Takes its Toll - On Hunters

Local news reports

A second deer hunter has died from an accidental shooting during Wisconsin’s nine-day gun season. Douglas County sheriff’s deputies said a man was accidentally shot by his hunting partner late the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 19. near Superior. 

Rescuers had to cut brush, so an all-terrain vehicle could reach the victim. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his name was not immediately released. 

A 22-year-old man, Thomas Stamborski, also died after being shot while hunting at Fort McCoy on the season’s opening day. Stamborski was the first hunter to be shot in Wisconsin since 2009. 

The current deer season has claimed at least four lives. The Langlade County forestry director was found unresponsive in a wooded area near Gleason, and a Green Bay man died after falling from a tree stand west of Wausau.

Tree-stand deer hunting is one of the most pathetic ways I can think of to slaughter animals, but I certainly wouldn't wish anyone to die like that. The others are pathetic too, shooting each other, breaking the 4 Rules of Gun Safety at will.

It's pathetic, sick and pathetic.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Wisconsin Man Agrees to Plea Bargain in Friend's Death

Local news reports WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

At least he didn't get that plea deal which says, "no problem it was only an accident, now be more careful in the future."

These guys did things that many lawful gun owners do.  They drank while handling firearms.  They played stupid games with guns. This is a perfect example of why we need to take gun accidents more seriously. We shouldn't wait until someone gets killed.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Wisconsin Spa Shooting Brings Call for New Gun Laws

The Boston Herald reports

Two Wisconsin lawmakers are pushing legislation to tighten the enforcement of gun rules in domestic violence cases, prompted by a fatal shooting rampage at a suburban Milwaukee spa.

Radcliffe Haughton, 45, bought a handgun just two days after his beleaguered wife obtained a restraining order against him. He used that weapon to kill her and two other women Sunday at the salon where she worked, before fatally shooting himself.

Sen. Lena Taylor said the shooting highlights the need for better enforcement of laws that require restraining order recipients to surrender their weapons.

"Across Wisconsin there are inconsistent standards, or sometimes none at all, for the collection of weapons owned by domestic abusers," the Milwaukee Democrat said Monday as she and Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber pushed for the bill.

Radcliffe Haughton’s wife, Zina, secured the four-year restraining order against him on Thursday, at which point he was ordered to hand over all of his firearms to a county sheriff. It’s unclear whether he turned in any weapons.

Around 11 a.m. Sunday, Radcliffe Haughton opened fire at the Azana Day Spa in Brookfield. He had bought the .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun he used in the attack from a private owner on Saturday, according to police in Brown Deer, the Milwaukee suburb where Haughton lived. The seller did nothing illegal; private individuals are not required to conduct background checks or enforce a 48-hour waiting period as licensed gun dealers are under state law.

Taylor’s legislation calls for individuals who are subject to a restraining order to be forced to surrender their firearms within 48 hours or face arrest. The bill failed in 2010 largely due to opposition from the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups.

It seems to me they need to do more than enforce the restrictions on domestic abusers. They need to eliminate the private sales of guns without background checks.

What do you think?  Please leave a comment.

The Wisconsin Spa Shooting

The Atlantic Wire reports - further to Jadegold's post of last night.

Radcliffe A man opened fire on workers of a spa at a mall in Brookfield, Wisconsin on Sunday that killed three people and injured four others.

Details are still coming out, but this is what we know:   Franklin Haughton is suspected of opening fire at the Azana Day Spa at around 11 a.m. Sunday. Police later found an improvised explosive in or near the spa. Haughton was able to escape and remains at large. The surrounding area, including a hospital where most of the victims were treated, was put into lockdown while police scoured the area for Haughton. Police officials said they found his car abandoned away from the mall. NBC News reports Haughton's estranged former partner works at the spa, and a restraining order that included a ban firearm ban was in place barring Haughton from contacting her: 

On Oct. 18, a temporary restraining order was issued against Haughton "with firearm restriction," according to Milwaukee County court records. A hearing was held that day, and Haughton was ordered to deliver his firearms to the sheriff and to have no contact for four years with the complainant or the residence. The complainant isn't identified in the court record.

Public records also show Haughton has a history of financial and legal trouble. This was also the second mass shooting in Wisconsin in three months. A gunman opened fire on a Sikh temple at the beginning of August.

Supposed DGU in Wisconsin

Local news reports

"I heard somebody coming up the steps to my room and just kind of said, 'here goes nothing,'"the victim said.

She then grabbed her gun and her phone. As she was dialing 911, a masked intruder appeared who attempted to use a form of pepper spray on her. That’s when she fired several shots at the intruder, police said.


Investigators believe the intruder forced himself into the residence through a closed and secured window. They are confident he was trying to rob the house. The victim said he was successful in taking a few items.

Police said the intruder fled when those bullets were fired. After a canine search of the area, the man has not been located.

Sorry, I'm not buyin' it. For one thing, home invaders cannot silently enter a home through "a closed and secured window." 

Secondly, and most importantly, if the guy was close enough to use pepper spray on her, she could not have fired several shots without hitting him. I don't care how bad a shot she is or how poorly trained, at close quarters like reported, he would have been a dead home invader.

So, I have major doubts as to the veracity of this report.

What about you?  How does it sound to you?

Please leave a comment.

Milwaukee Sikhs Considering Guns for Protection

Business Insider reporst

In the aftermath of last month’s rampage killing at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin, some members of the religion are considering arming themselves in order to defend against future attacks.

On August 5, Wade Michael Page burst into the temple in suburban Milwaukee and opened fire, killing six before police arrived on the scene. 

While the Sikh religion is known for its commitment to peace and non-violence, some of its members have said enough is enough in the wake of the recent shooting.  Some Sikhs are seeking to purchase firearms in order to avoid a repeat of the temple massacre.

“I think that being able to legally obtain and carry a gun is the best thing any Sikh can do, especially after 9/11 where there have been over 800 documented cases of harassment and violence against us.” 

Sikhs are required by the religion to carry a ceremonial knife at all times for self-defense.

But, there's only one problem, I mean aside from the fact that it probably wouldn't help anyway and in all likelihood would make matters worse.

Sikhs or any other citizens in Wisconsin who wish to arm themselves will enjoy relatively lax gun restrictions. According to the National Rifle Association, there is no permitting, licensing or registration required to buy or own a handgun, rifle or shotgun.

You see, places like Wisconsin make no attempt to ensure that gun owners are qualified. This is a terrible mistake. It allows many unfit people to own guns legally.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Wisconsin Gun Owner Murders the Kid Next Door

The Washington Post reports

A 75-year-old Milwaukee man charged in the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy who lived next door had been a repeated target of break-ins, according to neighbors.

John Henry Spooner was charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon.

The boy, identified as Darius Simmons, was unarmed when he was shot in the street outside their homes.

According to the complaint, Spooner approached Simmons as the boy retrieved a garbage cart from in front of a house Thursday morning. The boy’s mother, Patricia Larry, who saw the shooting, said Spooner told her son he “wanted his stuff back and that he wanted his shotguns back,” the complaint said.

Simmons and his mother told Spooner they did not have his property. Spooner then pulled a gun, pointed it at Simmons and fired one shot from about five feet away.

Spooner fired a second shot at Simmons as the boy was running away.

Let's hope Mr. Spooner was a reader of The Truth About Guns. He would have known the value of STFU when caught doing murder. Then, if the investigation proves the dead kid really had been responsible for the break-ins, we've got all the makings of another pro-gun martyr.

Let's not fail to notice that Spooner was another lawful gun owner turned bad. The gun-rights folks keep telling us there are very few of them, but I'm not convinced.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.