W. Baraboo bathrooms will be gun-free zones during open carry picnic

By Brian D. Bridgeford, News Republic | Posted: Friday, September 10, 2010 3:30 am

Gun-toting participants at the upcoming open firearms carry picnic will have to disarm themselves before using the bathrooms in West Baraboo's Haskins Park, village officials heard Thursday.

The event's organizer is cooperating with the legal requirement and village officials don't expect any problems or disturbances.

During the village board's regular meeting attorney, Mark Steichen noted both the village ordinances and state law prohibit the carrying of firearms in public buildings. When that law is applied to the Sept. 25 picnic organized by advocates of the right to carry unconcealed firearms in public, the park's restrooms are public buildings where open carry is prohibited, though the open-sided picnic pavilion is not, he said.

"Is that what's really in mind for security, probably not, they're probably thinking of schools and courthouses" Steichen said. "But that's the way the law reads."

There are no provisions in the law for the village board or other public official to make an exception to the law for picnic participants, he said.

Village Public Works Director Bob DeMars said picnic organizers spoke with him about installing temporary portable toilets at the park. However, DeMars said he is opposed to them because of problems with vandalism.

"In that case they are left overnight, they get tipped over, they get dumped into the river," he said.

The West Baraboo open carry picnic is being promoted by local resident Don Marso, whom Steichen said is cooperating with the village. Marso has announced the requirements for using the bathrooms to potential picnic participants via an Internet posting, he said.

"Don seems like a very reasonable guy," Steichen said.

In an e-mail message to the News Republic last week Marso said he is a retired correctional officer formerly with the federal prison at Oxford. Under a federal law he has the legal right to carry a concealed handgun, but said he exercises his right to carry a gun openly to support other Wisconsin residents' right to do so.

Village President Bruce Meyer said he is not concerned about the gathering of firearms enthusiasts.

"We're keeping it low key, low profile," he said. "We understand what they're doing."
http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/local/article_0eea8962-bc87-11df-ab35-001cc4c03286.html