Observers estimate that—even
on a workday—between 600 and 1,000 gun owners mobbed the legislature Tuesday at GRNC’s
Second Amendment Freedom Rally.
Held in the Halifax Mall, under the office windows of lawmakers during a
legislative day, GRNC supporters delivered a coordinated two-fold
message to
legislators, the media, and the world:
At a state level, it is time to
expand the 18-year success of our concealed handgun law to include restaurants, educational property, and other areas.
Absolutely nothing about
federal gun control proposals is acceptable, and gun owners will not compromise on the issue.
GRNC volunteers made the difference
Organized by GRNC Director of Development Josette Chmiel, more than a dozen GRNC
volunteers efficiently set up the event, signed up members, recorded photos and video of the event, and
beginning at 10:00 AM, directed gun rights supporters to legislators’ offices.
As hundreds of gun
owners visited the offices of their House and Senate representatives as
well the leadership of both chambers, the lime green “Guns Save
Lives” stickers they wore seemed to flood the complex.
Politicians and media got the message
Unlike
rallies held at unoccupied capitols on
weekends, the media swarmed this event. Most Raleigh-area TV outlets
were present, plus the Associated Press and National Public Radio.
WRAL-TV ran
live streaming coverage of nearly the full event on its website (to see
it, check GRNC’s home page at
www.GRNC.org). AP coverage of the event ran as far as San Francisco.
In
addition to legislators who addressed the enthusiastic crowd, numerous
others state
lawmakers attended the rally, up to and reportedly including Lt.
Governor Dan Forest (GRNC ****). Inside the legislature,
representatives, legislative
assistants, and staff were all keenly aware your presence.
Speakers energized the crowd
Opening
the rally, Pastor Rod Chaney (who ran for
House 50 in 2012 and earned GRNC’s highest 4-star evaluation), led the
group in prayer by urging them to be drawn to action in defending the
rights of free people. Josette Chmiel then got up to reiterate GRNC’s
“no compromise” position. Jay Delaney, Executive Director of
the Voter Integrity Project, spoke of the impact of voter fraud on gun rights.
Next,
the keynote speaker and nationally renowned WPTF
conservative talk show host Bill LuMaye discussed the historical
perspective of the Second Amendment in preventing tyranny, describing
how states
should nullify unconstitutional laws and calling upon Republican
leadership to “walk the walk.”
Other
speakers included Rules Chairman Rep. Tim Moore; Sen. Andrew
Brock, who called upon gun owners to be ever-vigilant and to stand and
fight for the Second Amendment; former Rep. Glen Bradley; Sen. Jeff
Tarte; and
Rep. Larry Pittman, who described his proposed amendment to the North
Carolina Constitution, which would
strengthen the right to arms and would require the State to resist federal attempts to disarm the citizenry.
As
rally participants became increasingly energized, GRNC President
Paul Valone took the stage to remind them of the lessons of 1994, when
“compromise” on relatively benign gun control proposals led to the
introduction of the draconian gun ban known as “Brady II.” As the
crowd’s fervor grew, he said:
“But
make no mistake: These
“reasonable” universal background checks are designed to create the
beginnings of a national gun registration system. And registration is
the necessary prelude to confiscation.
“So
tell people who support this “reasonable”
measure that the Clinton administration already tried to turn the
National Instant Check System into a defacto gun registration system by
failing to
expunge transaction records, in violation of the law.
“They
lied to us last time. Will we trust them this time?”
The crowd’s cry of “NO!” was so resolute
that it not only rang but actually echoed off the windows of the Legislative Office Building.
Said Valone, “This is not 1994. Born of fire, scores of gun rights
organizations like Grass Roots North Carolina have spent nearly two decades preparing for JUST. THIS. MOMENT.” Building to a crescendo, he said, “So now I want you to deliver a
message that shakes the politicians behind these windows…”
The resulting three chants from the crowd, repeating with increasing volume to literally
rattle legislators’ windows were:
“WE. WILL. NOT. COMPROMISE.”
See photos and video of GRNC Freedom
Rally
Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler says private sales
will continue
After GRNC dropped hundreds of emails into the office of Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, asking whether he would support statements made earlier
by Agriculture Police Chief Joel Keith that private gun sales would no
longer
be allowed at state-run facilities hosting gun shows, Troxler’s office
asked GRNC for a meeting. During the meeting, Troxler described
complexities of safely holding gun shows at the state fairground, but
promised that details were being worked out with gun show promoters to
allow
private sales to continue.
Patriot and Second Amendment supporter Rona Herman
is helping to organize an assembly
at the NC State Capitol in Raleigh to support gun rights. This assembly
is being conducted concurrently with groups across the country who will
gather
at state capitols in support of freedom.
GRNC encourages members to participate in this coordinated, nation-wide event to support the right to
keep and bear arms! Let our legislators know that we will NOT COMPROMISE OUR RIGHTS!
