Crowd rallies at Oklahoma Capitol for gun rights

Speakers at the rally in Oklahoma City spoke about their concern that gun rights are being eroded by a tyrannical federal government.

 
BY VALLERY BROWN vbrown@opubco.com | Published: January 20, 2013    Comment on this article Leave a comment

photo - Organizers said an estimated 1800 people from throughout Oklahoma crowded into the south plaza at the state Capitol Saturday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2013, to voice their support for their second amendment rights and to express concerns about proposed gun control legislation being considered by the federal government in the wake of the school shooting in Connecticut last month. Many held aloft hand-made signs or waved American flags as speakers addressed the gun rights rally. Oklahoma passed an open carry law that recently took effect allowing citizens to openly carry a holstered weapon on their body if they have been granted a license. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Organizers said an estimated 1800 people from throughout Oklahoma crowded into the south plaza at the state Capitol Saturday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2013, to voice their support for their second amendment rights and to express concerns about proposed gun control legislation being considered by the federal government in the wake of the school shooting in Connecticut last month. Many held aloft hand-made signs or waved American flags as speakers addressed the gun rights rally. Oklahoma passed an open carry law that recently took effect allowing citizens to openly carry a holstered weapon on their body if they have been granted a license. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman

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Don Hudgins, a 25-year law enforcement veteran currently with the Logan County sheriff's department, spoke about another theme echoed by other speakers and written on rally signs — that a well-armed citizenry is protected from an overreaching federal government.

“Guns are the last line of defense against a government that goes off the rails,” he said. “The Second Amendment isn't about shooting Bambi in the woods, but that is a benefit.”

Supporting rights

Ted Travis, a retired Air Force sergeant from Guthrie, said he attended the rally to support gun rights.

“I'm here to send a message that we won't be dictated to by President Obama,” he said. “Gun rights are under attack and it's an ingrained thing the Democrats do.”

Lance Gentry, of Chouteau, brought his 7-year-old son and his wife to the Capitol armed with bright yellow signs.

“We're just law-abiding citizens defending our rights,” he said.

His family held signs that read, “Politicians love disarmed peasants,” and “This is America, land of the free, not Nazi Germany.”

Jacob and Lane Frantz, both from Kellyville, came to the rally to support the Second Amendment, they said.

Jacob, 18, wore an empty gun holster on his belt because he's too young to open carry. The law requires permit holders be at least 21.

“The Second Amendment is clear that as an individual I have the right to keep and bear arms and that shouldn't be infringed,” he said.

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