A few carried guns. Mark Scheffler carried a calm, brown hen named
Winnie, short for Winchester, like the rifle. Scheffler was asked to
leave the Downtown Appleton Farm Market in Wisconsin, and it was
precisely the point he and a group of protesters wanted to make at the
popular Saturday gathering.
Chickens are far safer than firearms and laws allowing for open carry
need to change, said Scheffler of Appleton. “Carrying a loaded assault
weapon in downtown Appleton, the fine is zero dollars,” he said. “The
fine for carrying a loaded chicken - and she is loaded - is $263.50.”
This follows an incident a few weeks ago where police allowed two men to
walk around the farmer's market openly carrying AR-15 rifles.
Scheffler and the group felt it was time to prove how ridiculous open
carry laws are, but others feel this stunt isn't helping. Appleton
police asked the Scheffler to leave with his chicken because bringing
animals to the farmer's market violates city rules. They say they are
just enforcing the state ordinances. "It's our job to make sure that the
laws are enforced and in this case open carry is legal," said Appleton
deputy police chief.
Charles Branstrom walked through the farmer's market carrying his loaded
pistol, but just a few weeks ago he was the one of the men stopped by
police for having a rifle. He thinks this chicken protest isn't
comparable.
"That can be a health hazard, there's food being prepared down here and it's illegal," said
Branstrom. Appleton police are not issuing a fine for Scheffler and his
chicken as long as they stay out of the farmer's market area from now
on.
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