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Arrest of Racine man angers gun rights supporters
Associated Press
5:19 p.m. CDT, September 10, 2009

RACINE, Wis. - The arrest of a Racine man who was openly carrying a holstered gun on his porch has sparked anger among supporters of gun rights.

Frank Hannan-Rock, 52, was jailed Wednesday night on a charge of obstructing. Police say he refused to answer questions from officers investigating a report of a man shooting at raccoons while children were playing nearby. Officers later determined he was not the subject of the shots-fired call.

Supporters of "open carry" rights are expressing outrage online. Police Chief Kurt Wahlen says he's been getting e-mails from all over.

Wahlen says the phone call about the shots came from Hannan-Rock's house, and wonders if his refusal to speak was a set up. He says things would have turned out differently he had just answered a few questions.

If the call came from his house and then he refused to talk.....

Im thinking he may have set himself up to raise a ruckus and that's not good.

It's already been determined that open carry is legal in Wisconsin, no need to rub their noses in it.

notice he was arrested for obstructing, not for OC'ing.

Wait, I'm a little slow, but since when does someone's use of the 5th Amendment been criminal?
"Can you aska few questions."
"I choose to use my right to remain silent to remain silent."
"WOOO book em Dano!"

I'd fight that one.

I'm thinking that if you call the police with some kind of report, then you are somewhat obligated to talk to them if/when they actually show up.

If this was a setup, I'm thinking that he may not have chosen to invoke his 5th amendment rights and was a bit arrogant and maybe even slightly antogonistic. I don't know.

DoubleJ wrote:notice he was arrested for obstructing, not for OC'ing.

Agreed. That is apparently the official charge. I titled the post as I found it on another forum. Having said that, I do admit to a personal bias in favor of those who are vigilant in 2A (and 5A) issues and am slow to fault them even if they overreact (within reason of course). I'm not trying to ignite a debate, just stating my perspective. On the other hand, if this guy set up the whole thing just to trick the officers into a reaction, a whole other discussion would be in order.

Here's a newer and much more detailed report on this incident:

http://journaltimes.com/news/local/crim ... 002e0.html

IMHO, obstructing is a much abused tool of law enforcment. Probably 50+% of such arrests are unnecessary.

It really sounds like this was a set-up deal by the guy. Per the article, 'Police said Hannan-Rock was in possession of a digital voice recorder and a pamphlet on open carry at the time of his arrest.' It may be coincidence, but sure is a BIG one if so.

I tend to side with the police on this. If they had a report of illegal shooting, and they don't know who this guy is because he won't provide his name, then they don't know that he is actually the homeowner. He may have been carrying on someone else's property. I don't know what the laws in WI are on trespassing and carrying, but they sure can't tell if he should be there legally if they don't know who he is.

Whoo after seeing the guy's mugshot I'm siding with the bipeds, er police.

The time for neaderthals is over. The time for humans, has begun.

I keep seeing that guy in GEICO commercials.

frazzled wrote:Whoo after seeing the guy's mugshot I'm siding with the bipeds, er police.

The time for neaderthals is over. The time for humans, has begun.

Purplehood wrote:I keep seeing that guy in GEICO commercials.

frazzled wrote:

frazzled wrote:Whoo after seeing the guy's mugshot I'm siding with the bipeds, er police.

The time for neaderthals is over. The time for humans, has begun.

Purplehood wrote:I keep seeing that guy in GEICO commercials.

Pretty scary looking guy - especially the "Manson" eyes.

I wonder why they also didn't question the other man, who fit the description of the person the call was made about in the first place. If they did I wonder if he cooperated. If he actually fit the description i'd have thought they would have hauled him in too.

I posted a response to this on OpenCarry.org, and I managed to piss off a whole bunch of people. Evidently, everybody (their words, not mine) that carries in WI carries a tape recorder and pamphlets. When I suggested that baiting the cops was stupid, they came up with some lame response saying the cops should have recognized it as such, and blah blah blah. They also inferred that since I live in Texas - a non open-carry venue - I'm not qualified to comment.