Wisconsin: Town of Calumet bans use of rifle year round

[Smoke4320]

I'd start putting up notice of re-call flyers all over town right now.

the word might get through to them.

I agree with this plus come at them from every angle ..
have people continue to call them expressing anger over the change ect ect
pressure pressure pressure

[oneokie]

Town of Calumet is located in Fond du Lac County in Wisconsin-located on East side of Lake Winnebago. It includes places like Pipe, Johnsburg, Marytown. I spoke directly with each of the three town officials, one clearly stated their intention was a total rifle ban( with no limitations ). Town officials have indicated there will be no public input at Wednesday night meeting other than one person who put on the agenda. I explained to town chairmain to open this up for public comment as this issue will not go away and the next meeting people will learn exactly how to petition the town.

I looked on a map of Wisconsin and did not find a "town" named Calumet. Did find Pipe, Johnsburg and Marytown. ??????

Are the three town officials representatives of Pipe, Johnsburg and Marytown?

[cbrick]

I agree with contacting a gun friendly lawyer and the NRA & don't be afraid to ask for help.

I also agree with recall notices (by the thousands) plastered all over the area. Start the process of a legal, proper recall election & let them
campaign to keep their jobs. It would be interesting to listen to them explain the need to suppress the people and violate the Constitution.

Let them get away with this and it will only be the beginning of far worse to come.

Rick

[snuffy]

I looked on a map of Wisconsin and did not find a "town" named Calumet. Did find Pipe, Johnsburg and Marytown. ??????

Are the three town officials representatives of Pipe, Johnsburg and Marytown?

Is Wisconsin the only state that has townships?! It goes state, county, city and township in that order for local government. A county can have many townships, usually one is named for the major city it butts up against. My township is called the town of Oshkosh. There's also black wolf, Nekimi, Van dyne 4-5 others. Most have their own volunteer fire department, town hall and supervisors and board members.

Don't ask me why it's done this way here, I never had the slightest notion to get involved in politics.

[sparky45]

If those "leaders" are also local businessmen/women, you have a built in way to influence their opinions.

[montana_charlie]

I looked on a map of Wisconsin and did not find a "town" named Calumet. Did find Pipe, Johnsburg and Marytown. ??????

Are the three town officials representatives of Pipe, Johnsburg and Marytown?

Calumet, Wisconsin From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There is also a county in Wisconsin called Calumet County, Wisconsin which is adjacent to the town.

Calumet is a town in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,514 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Artesia Beach, Calumet Harbor, Garnet, Highland Park, Johnsburg, Laudolff Beach, Marytown, Pipe, Pukwana Beach, Winnebago Heights, and Winnebago Park are located within the town. The unincorporated community of Calumetville is located partially in the town.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calumet,_Wisconsin

[montana_charlie]

Today was informed we are no longer to use rifles in a rural agricultural Wisconsin community due to town passed " ban to use rifles in Town of Calumet" through a motion.

I wish you would post a link to the text of the law/regulation/ordinance when asking for our input. Without it, we don't know anything about your problem.

From your wording, it would appear that you can't use rifles in town. Well, most communities don't allow residents to shoot rifles within the town/city limits.

Please clarify the problem for us.

[oneokie]

Is Wisconsin the only state that has townships?! It goes state, county, city and township in that order for local government. A county can have many townships, usually one is named for the major city it butts up against. My township is called the town of Oshkosh. There's also black wolf, Nekimi, Van dyne 4-5 others. Most have their own volunteer fire department, town hall and supervisors and board members.

Don't ask me why it's done this way here, I never had the slightest notion to get involved in politics.

In that sense, it must be.

Here in Oklahoma we do have townships as set out by civil survey, 6 miles square, 36 sections (sq mile subdivisions of the township). However "towns" are communities that are incorporated and have set boundries (town/city limits) and as such, the ordinances of the town are limited in scope to the defined boundries of the town/city limits. We also have unincorporated communities which fall under the laws/rules/regulation of the County government.

Am having trouble wrapping my mind around exactly how Wisconsin local governmental enties operate. It is very strange to me that they are not called townships.

[btroj]

Is this a response to changes by the DNR to allow rifles in previous shotgun only areas?

More info would be helpful.

[gew98]

About 30 years ago Townships and counties in newjerkistan did much the same thing with "no discharge of firearms zones". Basically all of newjerkistan has been shotgun only for deer , with the exception of muzz loading ( with all the appropriate 'rifle' licenses etc etc ) .
Basically back then they took your rights away to hunt deer and such in your woods on your land regardless. Look out people it's communism/socialism coming to a township/county near you !. Thankfully Kenturkey does not have townships ( it's a commonwelath ) , but does have 120 counties...loads of local political bunk all around.

[starmac]

What I am gathering out of this township thing is just an EXTRA governing that some states have. I am used to putting up with fed, state, county, and city, but so far have never lived where their was an extra thrown in.

[Duckiller]

Townships were created by an act of Congress. The Northwest Territories act provided for the survey, subdivision and governing the area west of the 13 colonies to the Mississippi River. It was extended westerly until the US got to California. Texas and Louisana are probably not covered by it either. Surveying methods were greatly changed for Alaska. These are publicly elected officials that are proposing this legislation. There are rules that they must follow before they enact new laws. Not taking public input is probably against the rules. Consult with a private attorney, County counsel, Attorney General to see if what they want to do is remotely legal. Reguardless of what they do it is probably a good idea to recall them, especially is they don't want the hear from the people that elected them. The law as listed above may mean that what ever thy do is illegal. Even if the law says they can't do something and they do it a judge must declare it illegal. Start recall petitions, object to spending public money defending what you believe is illegal. Give them a serious ration of S**t and make them seriously think about resigning or not running for reelection. It is probably going to cost you some money to fight them so you and friends should start fund raising or taking up collections. Good luck in your fight. Give details on what and why you need money and some members here may help.

[dragon813gt]

You guys would hate PA. There are cities, townships, boroughs and villages. They're determined by population size. Sometimes the smaller ones have their own local government. But other times they fall under the jurisdiction of a larger area.

It sounds like the OP is saying that all rifle use is banned within that particular townships jurisdiction. Within city limits is one thing. But if the township is mostly rural it infringes on a lot of rights.

[chambers]

It looks like there was plenty of hunters/gun people calling our local officials and we may have tomorrow night the motion: " to ban the use of rifles in the Town of Calumet" removed 100%. They are sick and tired of people calling. When I spoke with board member he said it is only going to "take a minute to rescind the motion" and remove totally. There most likely are many people coming to this meeting to voice/show support for removal of this motion. This motion was a 100% ban on any rifle use year round and not just for the 9 day gun hunt where it use to be shotgun only. This weekend one board member was telling people they could no longer shoot a skunk with a .22 rifle. People starting working on this Sunday and hopefully by this Wednesday night this thing will be gone 100%.

[ctious]

I live in this area as well. What they passed is illegal. They are tonight trying to change the wording to make it legal.

In the end only the sheriffs can enforce it ant I spoke with the sheriff. He says they will not be enforcing it.

[chambers]

Attached is the actual town board meeting minutes on their website

TOWN BOARD MEETING
Town Hall November 5, 2013
Present: 21 7:00 PM

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Mike Endries. Present Chairman Mike Endries,
Supervisors Fritz Anhalt, and Ken Lefeber.

The agenda was posted at the three posting places at the fire house, town hall, and National Exchange
Bank.

Motion Anhalt, seconded Lefeber to approve the agenda as posted. Motion carried.

Motion Lefeber, seconded Anhalt to approve the minutes of the October 2, 2103 town board meeting as read. Motion carried.

Motion Endries, seconded Lefeber to approve the treasurer’s report as read. Motion carried.

Motion Lefeber, seconded Endries to pay all bills as presented in the amount of $192,981.64 Fire
Department portion in the amount of $14,849.83, and Town portion in the amount of $178,131.81.
Motion carried.

Motion Endries, seconded Anhalt to table the Amendment to the 2000 Wastewater Agreement with the
City of Fond du Lac until more information is received from the Town of Calumet Sanitary District’s lawyer. Motion carried.

Motion Lefeber, seconded Anhalt to ban the use of rifles in the Town of Calumet. Voice vote:
Anhalt yes, Lefeber yes, and Endries no. Motion carried.

Motion Lefeber, seconded Anhalt to approve the resolution supporting SB349 relating to the
Regulation of Nonmetallic mining. Motion carried.

Motion Lefeber, seconded Anhalt to adopt Resolution 2-2013 to Exceed the Levy Limit for 2013 payable in 2014. Motion carried.

Motion Lefeber, seconded Anhalt to leave the salting up to the discretion of the snow plow personnel and to try to cut back on the amount of salt spreading whenever possible. Voice vote: Anhalt yes,
Lefeber yes, and Endries no. Motion carried.

Motion Anhalt, seconded Lefeber to reimburse Ken Bock for cemetery legal fees as per previous motion.
The clerk will check the amount and a check will be cut for the next meeting. Motion carried.

The next town board meeting will be on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 7:00 PM.
The yearend meeting will be on Monday, December 30, 2013 at 7:00 PM.

Motion Endries, seconded Anhalt to adjourn the town board meeting. Motion carried.

Recorded by,
Mary Casper, Clerk
NOT APPROVED

[MaryB]

From the WI constitution:

Right to keep and bear arms. SECTION 25. [As created
Nov. 1998] The people have the right to keep and bear arms for
security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose.
[1995 J.R. 27, 1997 J.R. 21, vote November 1998]

Bear arms in my book means use.

[jaydub in wi]

It looks like there was plenty of hunters/gun people calling our local officials and we may have tomorrow night the motion: " to ban the use of rifles in the Town of Calumet" removed 100%. They are sick and tired of people calling. When I spoke with board member he said it is only going to "take a minute to rescind the motion" and remove totally. There most likely are many people coming to this meeting to voice/show support for removal of this motion. This motion was a 100% ban on any rifle use year round and not just for the 9 day gun hunt where it use to be shotgun only. This weekend one board member was telling people they could no longer shoot a skunk with a .22 rifle. People starting working on this Sunday and hopefully by this Wednesday night this thing will be gone 100%.

I live just up the road a bit, but I'll be giving them a call tomorrow

[ctious]

Never knew I had so many cast boolit members around me. Lol. I hope this gets removed. U should hear all the locals. They are pissed. Lol.

[HNSB]

In the end only the sheriffs can enforce it ant I spoke with the sheriff. He says they will not be enforcing it.

The problem is once the law is on the books you can end up with a different sheriff that will enforce it, or your current sheriff starts getting pressure from the township when they pay their subsidy to the department, or the sheriff's department uses the law to selectively target people they have a beef with, etc...

Much better to not have the law in the first place.
It sounds like enough people are concerned about it that your elected officials are going to have to decide if it's more important than their political careers.
You folks just need to keep the pressure on.

It's too bad that it takes something like this for people to get involved.