It was just like the Wild West, except without the “wild” part, and only “west” in relation to the rest of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is one of two or three states that does not allow concealed weapons, but:

TOWN OF ONALASKA — Anyone who expected to see “Rambo” or “Dirty Harry” types at a picnic Sunday celebrating the right to openly carry handguns would have been disappointed.

On the contrary, it was a sober and decidedly nonflamboyant group that assembled in the neighborhood park adjacent to the Marvin Gardens subdivision.

Many were former military personnel, and the consensus seemed to be that they wanted to put a sensible face on the issue of openly carrying handguns — a right that Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen recently said exists in Wisconsin.

Heck, they’re better deterrents out in the open than they are hidden under your coat.

Two hundred and thirteen people signed in at the picnic, 99 of whom were carrying a weapon. The police had previously said they would investigate any complaints or incidents, but had no plans for any special police presence at the event.

I do worry that one anti-gun extremist who doesn’t care if he gets arrested could really make trouble at something like this, but I suppose that’s always going to be the case.

Hat tip Boots and Sabers