Why are Republicans arresting people for filming them?

I have written before about Wisconsinites being arrested for filming their Wisconsin legislature, though there is a guaranteed right in the state statutes to film the legislature in session. But, a rule has been imposed to allow arrests for peaceful and quiet filming. A rule that doesn't even list an actual prohibition to filming. The rule of course being superseded by the actual state statute, along with Wisconsin and U.S. Constitution speech protections.

Some have been arrested for just having a camera in the gallery overlooking a session. Some arrested for wiggling their fingers, yes wiggling their fingers. Some arrested for having signs pinned to their shirts. So much for freedom of speech, huh? Although I support concealed carry, yes there are progressives who do but with necessary safeguards, it is strange that having a concealed weapon is fine, but a concealed camera isn't.

The video on the upper left is a number of people arrested for having a "concealed camera" day at the Wisconsin legislature.

By the way, if you want to contact the legislators and police officials responsible for these illegal arrests, here are some e-mail addresses and phone numbers. Please be polite, but firm, of course.

Charles Tubbs (Chief of Wisconsin Capitol Police):
Charles.Tubbs@wisconsin.gov

Jeff Calhoun:
Jeff.Calhoun@Wisconsin.gov

Bob Sloey:
robert.sloey@wisconsin.gov

Geoffrey McLendon:
geoffrey.mclendon@wisconsin.gov

Phone number for the Capitol police:

608-266-8797

Contact information for the members of the Assembly Rules Committee, who approve the rules for each session:

Representative Suder (Chair) – Rep.Suder@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 267-0280 or (888) 534-0069
Representative Fitzgerald (Vice-Chair) – Rep.Fitzgerald@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 266-2540
Representative Kramer – Rep.Kramer@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 266-8580
Representative Knodl – Rep.Knodl@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 266-3796 or (888) 529-0024
Representative Ballweg - Rep.Ballweg@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 266-8077 or (888) 534-0041
Representative Murtha - Rep.Murtha@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 266-7683
Representative Williams – Rep.WilliamsM@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 266-7506
Representative Barca – Rep.Barca@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 266-5504 or (888) 534-0064
Representative Pasch – Rep.Pasch@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 266-7671 or (888) 534-0022
Representative Clark – Rep.Clark@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 266-7746 or (888) 534-0042
Representative Bernard Schaber – Rep.BernardSchaber@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 282-3657
Representative Turner – Rep.Turner@legis.wisconsin.gov; (608) 266-0731 or (888) 529-0061