A Wisconsin man has been charged with a misdemeanor after bringing a loaded handgun into the state Capitol and later returning with an assault rifle. Joshua Pleasnick, 43, was charged on Monday with carrying a firearm in a public building. Pleasnick, a resident of Madison, is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for his initial hearing. It is unclear if he has legal representation at this time.
Pleasnick’s arrest came after he entered the Capitol shirtless, openly carrying a holstered handgun and accompanied by a dog on a leash. He demanded to see Governor Tony Evers, who was not present in the building at the time. After posting bail, Pleasnick returned to the Capitol later that night with an AK-style semi-automatic rifle and again demanded to see the governor. He was taken into custody once more.
According to a criminal complaint filed on Monday, Pleasnick claimed that he had no intention of using the weapon but wanted to speak to Governor Evers about men who have been abused by women without receiving help from authorities. He also mentioned feeling let down by “uniformed government officials” in the court system and expressed anger towards police officers who, in his view, did not believe that men could be victims of abuse.
The incident occurred in the context of Governor Evers being on a hit list compiled by a suspected gunman who had previously shot and killed a retired county judge in Wisconsin in 2022. Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell were also targeted. Whitmer was the subject of a kidnapping plot in 2020.
It is worth noting that Wisconsin’s Capitol building is known for being one of the most accessible in the country. While it has its own police force, the building lacks metal detectors, screening checkpoints, or X-rays. Consequently, individuals can freely enter between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays and directly access the offices of state lawmakers and others without undergoing security checks.
In conclusion, Joshua Pleasnick’s actions in bringing a handgun and assault rifle into the Wisconsin Capitol have resulted in misdemeanor charges. His motivations appear to be centered around seeking attention for issues related to male victims of abuse. This incident highlights the accessibility of the Capitol building, which lacks stringent security measures.
