An Advisory Memorandum was released by Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen Monday advising Wisconsin district attorneys not to prosecute based on disorderly conduct when people openly carry firearms in Wisconsin.
Kevin St. John, appointed by Van Hollen as special assistant attorney general for public affairs and policy, said Van Hollen released the memorandum after receiving inquiries from state prosecutors regarding the legality of open carry of firearms.
""One of the obligations that the attorney general's office has in the state of Wisconsin is to advise district attorneys, and we take that really seriously,"" St. John said.
The Wisconsin Constitution enumerates the right to ""bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose"" subject to reasonable regulation, according to the memorandum.
The memorandum emphasizes that law enforcement can ""briefly detain a person for investigative purposes"" who is openly carrying a firearm if there is ""reasonable suspicion"" based on criminal activity.
Gov. Jim Doyle has vetoed legislation twice in the past that would have allowed for concealed carry of firearms. At an event at Edgewood College Tuesday, Doyle said it is up to local communities to implement their own gun ordinances relating to open carry of weapons.
""What the attorney general expects when he writes a legal opinion is that it will be useful and hopefully helpful to those who requested it,"" St. John said.
—Hannah Furfaro
