(Photo: Ron Page, The Appleton, Wis., Post-Crescent)

Mark Scheffler’s protest against the legality of open carry in Appleton, WI is pure creative common folk genius. A couple weeks ago, two presumably militant zealots, Charles Branstrom and Ross Bauman, decided to walk through the downtown farmer’s market carrying AR-15 assault rifles on their backs for “self defense.”  They were not arrested nor fined despite several 911 calls and many feeling, rightfully so, uncomfortable.

In steps Mark Scheffler who decides he will point out the absurdity of gun laws by carrying his brown hen, named Winchester, in his arms through the farmer’s market. While carrying assault rifles through a downtown farmer’s market is completely legal, carrying a chicken, ironically something inherent in order for a farmer’s market to exist, is illegal and carries a fine of $263.50. It is also worthy to note that Scheffler owns a gun himself and pretty much feels like I do, “Guns have their place…they don’t belong in downtown Appleton.”

It scares me that a seemingly rational person “illegally” carries a hen whereas the quite possibly mentally impaired are the ones legally carrying assault weapons. Let’s think of the worst case scenario in each situation…

If you feel the US government has too much control over guns is this what you’d prefer?

Photo from the linked article on Vice.

When I hear people speak about The Constitution of the United State, they treat it as if it were written in stone, the beauty of The Constitution is that is was intended to be a fluid document. Not changing on whim like quicksilver but ready for slower change like molasses. This should be pretty evident from the fact that the first acts were adding ten amendments to the document. So when I hear rhetoric about what The Founding Fathers intended, I call shenanigans. They would likely tell you what they intended is no longer relevant and that is why the document can and must change. Just like the repeal of the 18th Amendment other amendments are open for repeal.

Which gets me to the 2nd Amendment and the much discussed right to bear arms. If you think The Founding Fathers imagined a gun that could fire multiple times a minute, let alone a second, you clearly aren’t well versed in muzzle loading and probably think The Constitution was a Google Doc that the signers collaborated on in a Google Hangout.

As for those who would also speak in absolutes, take a look at the 1st Amendment wherein we are still granted the right to speak freely “or abridging the freedom of speech” but there are limits, you cannot yell fire when there is none in a crowded building, you cannot libel or slander. As such it is reasonable that my right to bear arms can be restricted with reasonable restrictions like not being allowed to own a weapon of mass destruction or a fully automatic assault rifle.

This is for Trayvon Martin. I didn’t know him. I don’t know the man that shot and killed him. I don’t know exactly what happened and no one ever will. Regardless, this teenager is dead. And it’s ashamedly not really anything new.

When people with guns make bad choices there’s no turning back. None.

I’ve gotten my ass beat down, badly. But guess what, I healed. And I would take a beat down again and again and again and never would I be justified in taking someone else’s life.

Recently in Slinger, WI a 20yr old, Bo Morrison, was also shot and killed when he ran from a underage drinking party to hide from the police on a neighbors enclosed back porch. The homeowner went out on the porch and shot him. Obviously situations like this are never cut and dry. I’m all for protecting your home and family but there’s smart ways to do so and shooting to kill is not justified unless you are in immediate, imminent, absolute danger.

To keep it real, bad choices were probably made by all parties involved but in no way should either of these young men had to pay with their lives.

(The hoody print is from OG New York street artist Dan Witz, check him out and buy from DanWitz.com)