You’ve got the NRA vs. the Brady Campaign — two heavy hitting lobbying forces on a collision course in Washington, D.C.
But significant action will also take place in the streets. Grass roots support for each side’s position will probably tell the tale between victory and defeat.
Things got off to a good start today as rallies were held in dozens of state capitols — 49 states in all — in support of gun rights. Organized by a new group called Guns Across America, the demonstrations appeared to draw well given the short period of time to pull things together.
Hundreds of people are gathering in state capitals nationwide to rally against stricter gun control measures.
An estimated 600 people turned out so far for Saturday speeches in Austin, Texas. Many are carrying signs with messages such as “An Armed Society is a Polite Society” and “The Second Amendment Comes from God.”
Meanwhile, police say hundreds more joined rallies in New England while organizers also have plans to gather in capital cites to the west.
Activists have promoted the “Guns Across America” rallies primarily via social media. They’re being held days after President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping package of gun-control proposals.
First-term Texas state Rep. Steve Toth is among attendees in Austin. He’s one of several state officials nationwide who’ve proposed trying to curb federal gun restrictions in states.
It was the same elsewhere:
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.
“Gun Appreciation Day” as the rallies were themed, is a good way to unite the opposition to the president’s gun control agenda. That opposition will only grow as activity on The Hill heats up.
So who’s the oddball? Hawaii?
Correction – 8 oddball states. After all Obama visited 57 states – and you know he’s never wrong.
I’d very much like to see 2,000,000 patriotic American citizens march on Washington, D.C. this spring to remind our elected misrepresentatives, the Supreme Court, and the rest of the feral government they’re our public servants, not masters. I believe we need to let them know if they can’t or won’t do the jobs we’re paying them to do, plenty of other people can and will.
I think the time for letting them know they are in trouble for treason would be a better reason to march on D.C. as well as all of our state capitals. for infringement is treason and the government has too long exceeded and abused its mandate.
I attended the protest today in Boston. Took a couple seconds of video, but don’t have much to report as I was too far away to hear (or recognize) the speakers. Based on what I was able to hear, selections from the founding fathers seemed to be popular. I was pleased to see more than a handful of women and some children. The only explicitly crazy folk I saw, were a couple LaRouche supporters who had set up a table, somewhat away from the main crowd. They didn’t seem to have much business.
I was also at Boston’s rally, too. It was good to see so many good, concerned people show up but I feel like there must be thousands more. Thanks to the organizers! We’ve got to get a louder megaphone for the next one. Is megaphone the way to go? What is the best way to set up a P.A. to publicly address a crowd at a rally?
I was going to go, but had to work. But it’s refreshing to hear so many turned out in, hory clap! – Boston.
Maybe we’re not quite the walking dead here yet.
Those in Washington and of the media should understand that here in the hinterlands, the allegiance is not to the Congress, nor the Presidency, but to the Constitution. Abandon it, and you abandon the right to demand allegiance.
Durn! I got all excited then I pondered the gravity of 49 rallies by the gun people. Then, it dawned on me that there are estimated to be 10,000 garage sales a week, others say a million. I’m betting the garage sales people will turn out more people tha the 49 gun rallies.
You do know there are places where it’s too cold to have a garage sale this time of year?
Probably in Alaska, but then, everything they try to sell is full of bullet holes or smashed from their last drunken tirade anyway, so who’d show up to buy that stuff anyway.
In winter and bad weather people advertise and sell from inside their homes or garages. Heck, lots of places have nice big cozy buildings with food, music and entertaining people, beside all the junk.
Seriously though. I did watch all the cable propaganda channels (FNC too) just long enough to see how big the turn outs were that they covered and all seemed to be bullhorn crowds or less — then off to the big city and Best Buy to git Ma a new TV and to Michaels hobby store for some squiggl eyes and glu and discovered they had a bigger crowds!
Another Armed Pacifist(unless attacked)for Liberty.
I’m glad I live in Canada where we don’t live in such daily fear of attack that we feel the need to have a handgun with us at all times. We are free from fear like that.
7. Doug Palmer
I do not “live in fear” of injury, yet I am trained in first aid and always have some trauma care supplies on my person, home and car.
I do not “live in fear” of fire, yet I keep a fire extinguisher in my home.
We are all mortal and danger is always around us, even in Canada. Sensible people take precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones. Being aware and prepared is not “living in fear.”
You have not thought this through.
Anon has it right, Mr. Palmer. Preparing for possibilities is not “living in fear”. The point of training and carrying is to NOT live in fear.
I had forgot that Saturday was Gun Appreciation Day – so happens that I got one anyway!
If the girls from The École Polytechnique could hear you now.
St. Paul Minnesota. 1500 to 2000 were there, the local TV called it hundreds.
I was at the rally in Austin and the numbers were under reported. It was easily 1500 or more. I was hoping for a lot more than that but Austin is the largest liberal community in Texas.
I do not support our second amendment because of fear. Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It must be maintained and fought for by every generation. Our children and grand children need us to insure those rights are still there.
“Our children and grand children need us to insure those rights are still there.”
Well spoken from the generations who live in debt they never seem to get paid off in their lifetimes, have more unnecessay toys than senses and leave nurturing, educating and growing up their children to classroom teachers and babysitters. Well spoken from the generations who feed their chldrens bodies with every kind of junk food known to man. Well spoken from the generations who let their childrens minds be filled with all the garbage Hollywood and sofware game designers sick minds can envsion. When the times were good and the money flowing freely, nobody seemd to care much about the government spending and the national debt or the 4-5% of unemployeed or the millions of kids who had no food or medical care or the millions of people living in poverty.
I do not make these comments directed to you particularly, but rather, the nations generations as a whole, who suffers these things leaving one to wonder just how much they are sincerely really concerned with their children and their futures.