Is this Wisconsin militia plan for poll watching legal?

Kobal2 posted about this in the Pit thread about awesome Republican ideas, and so I followed his links.

[The main story can be found here.

]('Wisconsin Poll Watcher Militia' plans to confront Scott Walker recall petition signers at polls)
Kobal’s other link goes to an image that purports to be from the Wisconsin group’s Facebook page, where they basically threaten “do not approach our members by engaging in a physical hostile act” because they will kill you.

ETA: Lest anyone doubt the veracity of this story, lo! I found their Facebook page.

Anyway, it seems to me that this is clearly illegal vote-suppression and voter intimidation. Is it?

I tried to find Wisconsin’s law on citizen arrest, and the best I can find is this newsletter sort of thing from Madison: link. It reads: “While there is no statutory authority for security agents or private citizens to make arrests, judicial decisions in Wisconsin have established the common law concept of a “citizen’s arrest.” The general rule is that “a citizen’s arrest may only be effectuated for a felony or a serious misdemeanor affecting a breach of the peace.””

It sure seems like these militia guys have no legal right to attempt to detain anyone because they haven’t paid their taxes, and there’s no doubt for a second that this is voter intimidation, plain and simple.

Well, sure it is, but is it legal and Constitutional?

A bunch of loud mouth pussies who will either do no such thing, or make a show of it and then fold quickly when the cops come circling around.

If they showed up at my door brandishing firearms, I’d be calling the cops before I opened the door, and most definitely pressing charges (trespassing, terroristic threats, stalking, whatever I could get the county attorney to go with).

Of course, I’m not wanted on any warrants, but who really thinks that small detail will stop the idiots?

What’s the problem?

The problem is that black people in America have legitimate beefs. Let’s fix that.

And in your mind, that justifies physical intimidation at the polls?

Just so you’re being clear: you’re against armed militias going to polling places and accusing people of violating laws, apparently in hope that those people will be arrested before they have a chance to vote. This militia is also threatening to kill anyone who physically confronts them, even though Wisconsin is not a stand-your-ground state.

Am I correct in your condemnation of these whackos?

Yes.

Clear enough?

Lots of potential for something really bad to happen here. Leave law enforcement to the professionals.

Great. End of debate.

Its all bullshit. See the Pit thread.

If you’re not even allowed to carry a sign within a certain distance of the polls, how can you be allowed to carry a gun?!

Well, I’m still opposed to it, even though it never existed.

Well, it’s confusing, because according to Holder’s DOJ, you can carry a club. Although that may be only if you’re Black.

Afraid that all those inner-city McCain voters were being intimidated?

Yes. Even if it was one. Actually, especially if it was one. I think everyone should be able to cast their vote of conscience without intimidation of any kind. You know, kind like the opposite of the unions you love so much.

Surprised to see you don’t share that concern. Actually I’m not, since in your world anything that may help Dems is good and anything that may hurt Reps is good.

Where were there union thugs intimidating Republican voters? :dubious:

Don’t criticize someone else for not living inside your imagination.

I’m more worried about the plank in the Republicans’ eye than the speck in the Democrats’ eye. I haven’t seen any stories about actual voters intimidated by they alleged “New Black Panthers” but there were tens of thousands kept from voting by voter ID laws, inequitable distribution of voting machines, flyers left in Democratic areas telling Democrats they are to vote on Wednesdays, telling people that they’ll be arrested if they have any outstanding warrants, etc. I certainly hope you share my disgust for all of these tactics.

How about you think about what I said a bit more.