Thousands join pro-gun rallies in state capitals
Carrying a "Come and Take It" flag, James Wilson, of Elmore, Ala., joined several hundred people on the lawn of the Capitol in Montgomery, Ala., for a rally against gun control on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. / AP Photo/Dave Martin
Last Updated 6:06 p.m. ET
Thousands of gun advocates have gathered peacefully at state capitals across the U.S. to rally against stricter limits on firearms.
The size of crowds at each location varied - from dozens of people in South Dakota, to 2,000 in New York.
An estimated 600 people turned out so far for Saturday speeches in Austin, Texas. Many carried signs with messages such as, "An Armed Society is a Polite Society," and "The Second Amendment Comes from God."
Organized by the Washington D.C.-based group Political Media, the "Guns Across America" rallies have been promoted by activists via social media, and come days after President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping package of gun-control proposals.
Larry Ward, president of Political Media, says the "Gun Appreciation Day" is modeled after last summer's "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day." That's when supporters of the fast food chain were asked to rally outside restaurants after the company came under fire for its stance on gay marriage.
Ward says the rallies are a chance for the public to see that gun owners aren't scary people.
In Arizona and Oregon, some demonstrators came with holstered handguns or rifles on their backs. At the Kentucky Capitol, attendees gave a special round of applause for "the ladies that are packin'."
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First-term Texas state Rep. Steve Toth was among attendees in Austin. He's one of several state officials nationwide who have proposed trying to curb federal gun restrictions in states.
In Hartford, Conn. -- less than 50 miles from the site of the December 14 mass school shooting in Newtown -- police say about 1,000 people showed up on the Capitol grounds Saturday, urging state and federal authorities not to introduce new restrictions on gun ownership, saying such moves would erode their Second Amendment rights.
Task forces created by the legislature and Gov. Dannel Malloy are considering changes to state gun laws.
In Maryland, where Gov. Martin O'Malley is backing a comprehensive measure that includes a ban on assault weapons and new licensing requirements for handguns, a demonstration in Annapolis drew a large crowd to Lawyer's Mall in front the state capitol, where demonstrators carried signs reading, "Guns Save Lives," and "It's not about Guns, It's about Control."
A demonstration was also held in Albany, N.Y., where the nation's toughest assault weapon and magazine restrictions were passed and signed into law last week.
Demonstrators rally outside the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, to assert their right to own firearms and to denounce recent gun-control efforts.
/ AP Photo/Tim RoskeRepublican Assemblyman Steven McLaughlin told the crowd in Albany that New York's new law was an "abuse of power" by the governor.
"This is an outrage against humanity, what we're seeing," said protester Robert Candea, of Warwick.
In Frankfort, Ky., tea party leader David Adams spoke to the crowd, saying that the "government is out of control."
In Augusta, Me., dozens of gun-rights advocates gathered in front of the Maine State House, many standing in the snow and some holding flags and placards during Saturday's mid-day rally.
One demonstrator, Joe Getchell of Pittsfield, said every law-abiding citizen has a right to bear arms, and it's a constitutional right no one can take away.
Another demonstrator held a sign that said, "Educate Not Legislate."
In Columbia, S.C., a couple of hundred people came Saturday to the State House for the rally. Even more attended a nearby gun and knife show. People at both locations said interest was high because of President Obama's gun-control proposals.
Several hundred gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, for Saturday's "Guns Across America" rally. Twenty-seven-year-old Jolynn Heal, of North Liberty, drove more than 100 miles with her husband and 10-year-old son to protest President Obama's gun control measures, such as lowering the maximum number of bullets in a magazine clip. She said limiting the amount of ammunition in gun magazines makes it difficult to defend against multiple intruders.
In Lansing, Mich., some attending the rally freely carried guns at the event Saturday, reports MLive.com. In response to the proposed federal bans on assault weapons, some Republican state lawmakers want to pass a bill that would exempt guns made in Michigan.
In Harrisburg, Pa., scores of protesters rallied at the State Capitol, many of them carrying signs and American flags. Participants told local media that they favor the universal background checks advocated by the president, but not other proposed restrictions.
In Madison, Wis., Capitol police spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis said an estimated 500 to 600 people showed up for what the Facebook page promoting the event called a "peaceful picketing protest."
Pictures posted on the page showed people holding signs like "Know Guns Know Freedom."
About 150 gun-rights advocates gathered in Richmond, Va., and walked around the perimeter of Capitol Square.
In Jefferson City, Mo., among Missourians protesting at the Capitol, Second Amendment supporter John Chenault told CBS Affiliate KRCG, "Who's to say we can or can't have something that is entertainment to us? The only thing it's ever done is gone out to the range and shot pieces of paper.
"There's a lot of politicians out there, they want to infringe on our rights, and I'm out here speaking against that," Chenault told KRCG correspondent Juliette Dryer.
Corey Boyles told the station he thought that by exercising gun control, the government was setting a precedent: "I'm afraid of them registering our weapons for the purpose of future confiscation," he said.
When asked how to address gun violence outside of gun control legislation, one protester suggested allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons.
And in Colorado, hundreds turned out for a pro-gun rally in Denver, with signs reading "Party like it's 1776" and "Registration is the first step to confiscation."
Republican State Rep. Chris Holbert of Parker told the crowd the Second Amendment is "a defense against tyranny."
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Everyone feel sorry for anyone that loses a family member, BUT I and countless others have lost loved ones to Cancer!
Remember these were innocent victims, till the day of diagnosis.
The way we defeat cancer is to find the origin (disease) , As in the (diseased) shootings of helpless children.
In visiting Washington DC this past Christmas, I noticed that All buildings that we considered valuable had pylons around them and at least one guard posted. (and empty bldgs during X-mas)
As opposed to the fact that our MOST important commodity, (our Children) had schools that could be driven into, shot up, or whatever a terrorist / or whatever, could think of. If they don't have weapons, then the imagination will take over and the destruction will be horrendous.
Let's use our heads, and protect our children, in their schools.
We cannot afford to make mistakes in protecting our children, just concentrating on guns could just be another mistake on our way to an answer.
To this point have we protected our schools? Something we have immediate control over and can do, or are we going to wait to say "I wish we would have done that right away" Our most precious children are still not really protected, BUT the White House adds protection at any hint of trouble!
Let's use our tax dollars for protection and not harassing/controling law abiding citizens.
Thanx
These moronic freaks forget about more jobs jobs jobs being the best for all..
Seems attention spans are at all time lows...
With some "media" that refuse to inform....must entertain...for the big bucks...24 hour 7 day a week of nothing...just 30 second sound bites..
Many a guest with Passion and Brains and a strong Voice and a Purpose is cut off....sorry out of time, thanks for a the few seconds...
Run the call a doc if you suffer from 4 hour erection commercial...then run the have you been using this drug, if your guts have fallen out call these lawyers...
But liars with an agenda are given lots of time to spew bs....And never challenged...
Would People be so dumb, so hateful, so blind to the World around them IF they were truly informed...
Probably not....
On second thought, it may not have so much to do with English class. I was taught that a complete sentence is a statement that forms a complete thought.
Maybe you're better with math, so here's a great formula for you!
Incomplete thoughts = You + computer + comments page = incomplete sentences
What is this letter about?
With his father and a firearms instructor standing nearby, an 8-year-old Connecticut boy shot himself in the head with a submachine gun yesterday, killing himself in an accident some say should never have happened.
Christopher Bizilj was testing a 9 mm Micro Uzi at the Westfield Sportsman's Club in Westfield, Mass., as part of the Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo, when he shot himself Sunday.
"The firearm instructor prepped the weapon for him, and once it was ready he handed it to the child," Westfield Police Lt. Hipolito Nunez told ABCNews.com today.
So glad to see a "certified" firearm instructor prep the weapon!
ps: It's hard to display sarcasm when typing. Also, please ponder your response before you reply.
Quick draw Republicans in Congress, intent on stopping any gun-control proposal from the Obama White House, are way off target when they accuse the president of violating gun ownership rights under the Constitution.
Gun control is completely consistent with the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. And President Obama is on target with the great American tradition of proposing gun control laws for Congressional approval as well as by issuing executive orders on gun control.
The only opinion that matters here is the Supreme Court's opinion. And the high court has ruled, several times, that the president, the Congress, state and local government all have the power to regulate guns. The Court reaffirmed this interpretation as recently as 2008 in the landmark case, District of Columbia vs. Heller.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/01/16/what-everybody-needs-to-know-about-our-constitution-and-gun-control/#ixzz2Icw1JZLg
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/01/16/what-everybody-needs-to-know-about-our-constitution-and-gun-control/#ixzz2IeGfsCV8
I think you are right.