- OSHKOSH, Wis. -- Following
the wounding of an Oshkosh police officer Saturday night, area residents
were forced from their homes, their lawful firearms being confiscated by
police.
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- The Oshkosh Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics
Unit responded to the area, with a K-9 police dog in pursuit of the perpetrator
who was reported to have fled on foot.
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- Citizens' guns were seized through searches of area homes.
The police promised to return the firearms after forensic tests proved
they were not involved in the crime. The injured officer's name was withheld,
but media reports indicate his condition is not life-threatening.
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- "The message is: Hand over your guns, now!"
said Corey Graff, executive director of Wisconsin Gun Owners Inc. "This
is a blatant case of guilty-until-proven-innocent and an abuse of police
power."
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- Still, residents in the area are furious about the home
invasions by police and what they see as theft of their property. Although
early reports are unclear, they indicate a search warrant was issued for
two homes, yet additional home owners also had firearms confiscated.
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- "We want the perpetrator of this crime caught and
brought to justice just like everyone else," said Graff. "But
that doesn't mean the police should trample citizens' 4th amendment protections,
steal lawful private property and enter the home without reasonable suspicion
or warrant."
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- One homeowner in the area said his guns were taken by
police, guns that hadn't left his gun safe since last hunting season. Another
victim of the police searches -- an elderly women -- reported waking up
to officers' searching her home in the early morning hours.
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- The Oshkosh Northwestern reported, "Residents were
not being allowed to return to their homes by press time."
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- http://www.wisconsingunowners.org/
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