Wisconsin law allows an 18 year old to open carry and handgun, but they may not open carry in a vehicle. see description?
A weapon in a vehicle that can be reached is a concealed weapon. Some states allow weapons to be inside a vehicle if they are in a gun rack that can be seen before approaching the vehicle such as in pickup trucks. When I was younger the guns were put in the trunk, with the breeches open and no bullets stored in such a way that they could be loaded by accident. As I grew older and had "hatch backs" the guns were stored separate from the ammunition (which was in a locked box). If you put a gun into a car and do not take precautions it can be ruled to be a concealed weapon! Even with a concealed weapon permit a traffic stop can prove disastrous! FYI: "there is a difference between the laws for handguns and other types of firearms. Effective Nov. 19, 2011, long guns, such as rifles, shotguns and muzzleloaders, will no longer have to be in a case in order to place them in or on a vehicle, or to transport them unloaded in or on a vehicle. A loaded firearm, other than a handgun, can only be placed or possessed on the top or exterior of a vehicle which is stationary. Additionally, it is important to be aware that unlike handguns, it remains illegal to actually load any long guns (rifles, shotguns & muzzleloaders) while the firearm or person loading it is still in the vehicle. All long guns must be outside a motorized vehicle before a person may load the firearm. Once loaded, a long gun can be set down on a stationary vehicle, but must be unloaded before the firearm is placed inside or transported in or on the vehicle. Long guns must also be unloaded before they may be placed, possessed or transported in a motor boat with the motor running." (https://dnr.wi.gov/emergency/concealedCa...
Is it legal to mount a dummy gun on a vehicle?
…Sort of.Keep in mind I’m speaking very generally here and each individual state may have policies that make this more complicated. But, generally speaking, it is not precisely against the law to have a “dummy gun” mounted on a vehicle. WWII reenactors have been known to mount deactivated machine guns to jeeps as part of their reenactment activities, and it’s even legal for civilians to own actual military tanks, main guns and all (though again, the gun has to be rendered inoperable).HOWEVER, it should go without saying that if you simply go tooling about the neighborhood in your vehicle with a large gun visibly mounted on it, you’re going to scare people. And scared people call the police. You are going to get pulled over eventually and be made to explain yourself. So long as you haven’t been threatening anyone with your “dummy gun” the police should let you off with a very stern warning.But if you HAVE been using your “dummy gun” in a threatening manner, i.e. pointing it at people deliberately, you’re going to jail.It doesn’t matter that your gun is not a real gun. You gave people reasonable cause to believe their lives were in danger. And that’s illegal even if it wasn’t a real threat.
What happened to gun racks in the back windows of trucks in the United States?Did something specific happen like a tragedy, or was it just the way the nation progressed?
A combination of political correctness and safety.Gun racks are cool, and I have a few as well. However, they advertise “hey, I’ve got a gun, with only an easily breakable piece of glass as a barrier!”Of course, my gun racks have big ass locks on them. They can be quickly removed and the weapon extracted, provided you have the right code… but my truck is really old and I don’t think they make windows for it anymore. Its not worth it. Some idiot might come along, break my windows and try to take my guns, and leave with the windows still broken. Sure, I am a duct tape wizard but I would prefer not to have to deal with duct taping the back of my truck.And, not all gun racks are created equal with nice, high quality, hardened steel quick combo locks on them. Some are just a jury rigged duct-tape-and-board thingy. Which doesn’t have any locks on it.And, political correctness.If you advertise you’re a “right wing gun nutter” you’ll probably get keyed.I made the mistake of driving my car with an NRA and a “Right to Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed” sticker on them to visit a friend in San Francisco, a notoriously anti gun, liberal city. When I got back… some asshole keyed my car! Well, in fairness the key marks were on the bumper stickers and no serious noticeable damage had been done to my car, but someone still went and scratched it up…Now, imagine if I had a few ARs on a rack. They’d probably form a protest line and yell cliched chants at me as I try to get to my car…No, that old truck with the rack I keep on my own property (well, technically, its not mine till my parents die but they hardly care what I do on it anymore, its not like I’m a teen).A while ago we had a problem with some rowdy local teens getting drunk and making noise on our property. And alcohol makes people more aggressive (maybe not, last time I learned about alcohol was 9th grade health class). A neighbor had a problem with some rowdy teens on his property who made violent threats to him when he told them to go.Plus, we have an animal problem. Raccoons, foxes here and there, stray dogs, etc. Not too big of a deal but enough to be somewhat a problem.I keep an AR on that rack and don’t take the truck off my property or out of our small town. Don’t feel like replacing any windows…
Can I leave a rifle in the gun rack of my truck in Wisconsin?
Can I leave my rifle in the rack in the back window of my truck, assuming the rifle isn't stolen, I'm over 18 and legally allowed to own said rifle, and I'm not a convicted felon? Can I leave it loaded? New to the state and just wondering. Thanks
Is it true schools used to have shooting ranges?
Both my prep school (age 8–13) and public school (age 13–18) in the UK had shooting ranges. Public schools have a long tradition of running a Combined Cadet Force (previously Officers Training Corps). In the traditional British class system, the children of upper-class parents (who typically attended public schools) would in time of war join the armed forces as officers.The range was part of the CCF facilities, along with a parade ground and obstacle course.
In gun ownership, age was not a problem 50 years ago. Do you think today's teenagers are less capable?
While I agree with the two previous answers to some degree I want to add that today’s gun culture is also different from the gun culture when I grew up in Wisconsin during the 60’s and 70’s. Guns in my time were mostly bolt action rifles used for hunting or the range… to get ready for hunting. Today self defense, military style rifles and handguns seem to be more popular themes.Youth seem to have fewer role models to learn from. Ranges can still be a great source instruction and guidance. But, I find three groups of shooters at my local ranges. Hunters, competition shooters and self-defense shooters. At my range competition shooters are the largest group and there is some crossover between groups. But the best advice on gun safety and shooting come from the competition shooters and hunters. The self-defense shooters concentrate on stopping power and penetration.Many of the young gun owners I know fall into the later group. They do not come from hunting families and are often the first in their family to own a firearm. Their weapons choice and shooting styles are often based on video games and magazines, not mentors. They tend to spend less time at a range and get less instruction.Maybe the NRA will go back to their pre-1978 selves and promote safe shooting and competition rather than politics. The NRA was a great source of mentors for young shooters. It is a dream that I have.
What was the most redneck thing you've done that you totally loved?
Tim, thanks for the a2a! I remember it well, back in the 60’s I drove my 1956 Chevy truck to High School (something I started doing even before I got my drivers license) with my Shotgun and Rifle ridding in the gun rack. I usually had a pistol and a Bowie knife in the glove box. Didn’t even bother to lock the door and nobody ever bothered any of them or gave a rats Rosie I even had them. I unloaded my rifle and shotgun at different times, and carried them into the building, for props in speech class talking about 2A issues or teaching proper care of the 1917 Enfield rifle. Got an A for both speeches as I remember.Back then we didn’t think of any of that as particularly “redneck” any more than playing with a pigging string was particularly “rodeo”, or having cow or horse manure on your boot heels was particularly “country” it was just everyday life, just as wearing your FFA jacket in class, or having a welding cap hanging out of your back pocket. It just was, no big deal. I not only miss those times, but it also saddens me that kids no longer have a choice of living a life like that.Back in those days, you might have been a redneck if you lived in a rural area and did work like tending cattle, riding horses to do your job, drove a tractor, hauled hay, built fence, or did any work in the heat of the summer sun. That’s what it took back then to be a redneck and we were damn proud to be that when it meant we were working, earning our keep and pulling our weight in society and had real folding money in our pockets.
What would happen if your car was towed and you retrieved it from the tow lot (using your own key) without paying the tow fee?
A good friend of mine did this at Georgia Tech. He'd acquired several unpaid parking tickets, and one Friday morning he discovered that his car had been towed. Not wanting to pay several hundred dollars, he staked out the impound lot from a nearby hill and waited. After a short time he saw a parking attendant walk over to the impound lot with another student (who had no doubt paid the fees necessary to retrieve her car for the weekend), so he headed down. The lot looked something like this one:It was small, held about fifteen cars, and had doors that opened on hinges.Once the attendant opened the gate to let the girl get her car, my friend walked in as well. The attendant said "Can I help you?" and my friend replied "No thanks!" Then he walked over to his car, got in, and started the engine. At this point the attendant figured out what was going on and closed the gates. He didn't lock them, though, and this obviously wasn't a permanent solution anyway since the attendant and this girl were also in the impound with him. So my friend put the car in neutral and started rolling towards the gate. When he got close, he let the car just push the gates open and he drove away. Although I had sat with my friend while he staked out the lot, I was pretty nervous about this whole plan and had decided to leave as he approached the attendant. I was sure the whole thing would fail. So when he drove up that evening in his car with no negative repercussions, I was stunned. So we waited to hear something from parking enforcement or the GT police, but days and then weeks went by with no ill effects. Amazingly, it looked like he would get away with it. In the end it took them about a month. One day he got a call from the GT cops asking about his car being towed, to which he replied "What? No, I have it right here." But they persevered and he eventually went into the police department and had to pay all the tickets. It's a good story, though!Note: Based on the other answers here, it sounds like my friend's consequence-free experience is pretty atypical and that people can go to jail or get sued for this. So I don't recommend trying this at home!