About 2,000 people, many of them carrying American flags and hoisting signs opposing greater gun control, rallied for gun owners’ rights Saturday afternoon on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol.
Among the groups represented at the “Second Amendment Rally” were the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, the Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance, the National Rifle Association and the state Republican Party.
Rally attendees said they wanted to remind legislators during the final days of the session that they oppose any gun control legislation.
For some, the message was more personal. Katie Peterson, 25, said that having a gun would’ve protected her from past domestic sexual abuse. “After witnessing and experiencing abuse, I realized, I am my protector,” her sign read.
One man carried a sign that read, “Murder with a gun is already against the law. Ted Kennedy’s 1967 Oldsmobile has killed more people than all of my guns.”
Scheduled speakers included Rob Doar, political director of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus; Jennifer Carnahan, chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota; Rep. Marion O’Neill, R-Maple Lake; Hamlin University Prof. Joseph E. Olson; Louis Dennard and Daniel Ward of the African-American Heritage Gun Club of Minnesota, and GOP-endorsed congressional candidates Jim Hagedorn (First District) and Pete Stauber (Eighth District).
Retired Lt. Col. (retired) Willes Lee, a member of the board of directors of the National Rifle Association, was keynote speaker.
Students and other supporters of greater restrictions on guns have previously drawn their own crowds at Capitol rallies.
This is a developing story. Return to www.startribune.com for updates.
