Thousands of armed protestors gather at state capitols in pro-assault rifle rallies

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Thousands of armed protestors gather at state capitols in pro-assault rifle rallies across the country

'Guns Across America' rallies held days after President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping package of gun-control proposals
Mass turnout includes thousands in New York and hundreds in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Texas
Minnesota state Rep. Tony Cornish said he would push to allow 21-year-olds to carry guns on college campus

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 17:24 EST, 19 January 2013 | UPDATED: 22:47 EST, 19 January 2013

Thousands of gun advocates gathered peacefully Saturday at state capitals around the U.S. to rally against stricter limits on firearms, with demonstrators carrying rifles and pistols in some places while those elsewhere settled for waving hand-scrawled signs or screaming themselves hoarse.

The size of crowds at each location varied - from dozens of people in South Dakota to 2,000 in New York. Large crowds also turned out in Connecticut, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington state.

Some demonstrators in Olympia, Wash., Phoenix, Salem, Ore., and Salt Lake City came with holstered handguns or rifles on their backs. At the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort, attendees gave a special round of applause for 'the ladies that are packin'.

Activists promoted the 'Guns Across America' rallies primarily through social media. They were being held just days after President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping package of federal gun-control proposals.

The crowd swelled to more than 800 amid balmy temperatures on the steps of the pink-hued Capitol in Austin, where speakers took the microphone under a giant Texas flag with 'Independent' stamped across it. Homemade placards read 'An Armed Society is a Polite Society,' 'The Second Amendment Comes from God' and 'Hey King O., I'm keeping my guns and my religion.'

'The thing that so angers me, and I think so angers you, is that this president is using children as a human shield to advance a very liberal agenda that will do nothing to protect them,' said state Rep. Steve Toth, referencing last month's elementary school massacre in Newtown, Conn.

Toth, a first-term Republican lawmaker from The Woodlands outside Houston, has introduced legislation banning within Texas any future federal limits on assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, though such a measure would violate the U.S. Constitution.

Rallies at statehouses nationwide were organized by Eric Reed, an airline captain from the Houston area who in November started a group called 'More Gun Control (equals) More Crime.' Its Facebook page has been 'liked' by more than 17,000 people.

Texas law allows concealed handgun license-holders to carry firearms anywhere, but Reed said rally-goers shouldn't expose their weapons: 'I don't want anyone to get arrested.'

A man who identified himself only as 'Texas Mob Father' carried a camouflaged assault rifle strapped to his back during the Austin rally, but he was believed to be the only one to display a gun. Radio personality Alan LaFrance told the crowd he brought a Glock 19, but he kept it out of sight.

At the New York state Capitol in Albany, about 2,000 people turned out for a chilly rally, where they chanted 'We the People,' 'USA,' and 'Freedom.' Many carried American flags and 'Don't Tread On Me' banners.

The event took place four days after Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the nation's toughest assault weapon and magazine restrictions.

Republican Assemblyman Steven McLaughlin said the new law was 'abuse of power' by the governor. Some in the crowd carried 'Impeach Cuomo' signs. Protester Robert Candea called the restrictions 'an outrage against humanity.'

About 1,500 people showed up in Olympia, Wash. Former NFL tight end Clint Didier, who unsuccessfully ran for the GOP Senate nomination in the 2010 election, urged the crowd to prepare 'for the worst possible predicament' by stocking up on food, guns, ammunition, communication devices and medicines, The Olympian newspaper reported.

In Connecticut, where task forces created by the Legislature and Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy are considering changes to gun laws, police said about 1,000 people showed up on the Capitol grounds.

One demonstrator at the rally in Maine, Joe Getchell of Pittsfield, said every law-abiding citizen has a right to bear arms.

In Minnesota, where more than 500 people showed up at the Capitol in St. Paul, Republican state Rep. Tony Cornish said he would push to allow teachers to carry guns in school without a principal or superintendent's approval and to allow 21-year-olds to carry guns on college campuses.

Capitol rallies also took place in Colorado, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Vermont and Wisconsin, among other states.

Back in Texas, Houston resident Robert Thompson attended the rally with his wife and children, ages 12, 5 and 4. Many in the family wore T-shirts reading: 'The Second Amendment Protects the First.'

'What we are facing now is an assault weapons ban, but if they do this, what will do they do next?' Thompson asked.

William Lawson drove more than four hours from Wichita Falls and held up a sign reading 'Modern Musket' over the image of an assault rifle and the words, 'An American Tradition since 1776.'

'I'm not some wild-eyed person who wants to fight in the streets,' Lawson said. 'This is a country of laws. But I want to protect our Constitution.'

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson conceded that the Second Amendment sometimes leads to killings, but he told the crowd that the First Amendment can be just as dangerous. Patterson said news coverage of those responsible for mass shootings can spark copy-cat shootings.

'All of us here, together, are right about our liberty,' Patterson said. 'And we will not back down.'

Gunning for no change: Thousands of armed protestors gather at state capitols in pro-assault rifle rallies across the country | Mail Online
 

This in my opinion is just going to give these gun hating acitvists more ammo to use against us.. I for one hate these so called bans that are supposed to be coming.. But protests with firearms can be a good thing as long as they don't get out of hand and nobody gets hurt.. Remember people these protestors are there for an amendmant we believe in and support.. We don't want some nut job doing something stupid and speaking for all of us at an event like this.. That being said.. God Bless the Second Amendment
 

Funny, I was in a combat zone when I was 17 but couldn't own my own gun until I was 21 although nobody asked how old I was when I bought guns at the base commissary. :) I couldn't even vote.
One of my sons went to one of these rallys. He carried a sign that said "I'm alive because I could return fire" but the news people avoided him. The tree-hugging media does not want to present any pro-gun information whatsoever. They think the general public would think they were callous to the school shootings and result in a decrease in sales.
 

Boy Pong....you got guts. You mentined "God" and "nut job" in the same post. May Allah be with you! :) or "The Force".....or a "Paranormal Apperation" or other acceptable "Spirit"
 

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Funny, I was in a combat zone when I was 17 but couldn't own my own gun until I was 21 although nobody asked how old I was when I bought guns at the base commissary. :) I couldn't even vote.
One of my sons went to one of these rallys. He carried a sign that said "I'm alive because I could return fire" but the news people avoided him. The tree-hugging media does not want to present any pro-gun information whatsoever. They think the general public would think they were callous to the school shootings and result in a decrease in sales.
The general public who have no knowledge of guns are only as smart as the news they watch.. These are the most misonformed and uneducated about firearms people in our country.. They see a gun as a weapon as firearms owners who are educated about them see them as a weapon that deserves saftey and respect.. These activists need to shut their mouths until thye fully understand firearms and what the 2nd amendment means to this country.. And good for your son for supporting guns at a rally and shame on those people for not acknowledging him..
 

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