Armed demonstrators rally in Washington against gun control efforts
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Supporters of gun rights in Washington state turned out in force Friday at the state Capitol, carrying guns and signs while decrying efforts to control firearms.
Jason Dupea of Tacoma, one of hundreds of people at the rally, suggested it would be better for lawmakers to eliminate "gun-free" zones or strengthen punishments for those who commit crimes with firearms.
Dupea said he's a longtime supporter of gun rights but only recently began joining rallies. He's optimistic that gun owners can block the restrictions being considered by lawmakers.
"I think there's more momentum with the people for their rights than there is with the government for legislation," Dupea said while carrying his M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle. "Eventually, the government has to capitulate to the will of the people."
State lawmakers have proposed a variety of ways to combat gun violence, including an expansion of background checks and allowing teachers to carry weapons.
Supporters of new restrictions are optimistic that some legislation can pass the Legislature this year as lawmakers respond to the mass killing at an elementary school in Connecticut.
Gun advocates argued that new restrictions on gun sales and magazine capacities would infringe on Second Amendment rights.
Many speakers at the rally Friday focused on President Barack Obama and federal efforts to control gun violence. Some shouted to impeach Obama and accused him of committing treason.
Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, encouraged people to make their voices heard and remain politically active to defend gun rights. She said afterward that she'd like to see the state focus on mental health issues and make sure people with mental problems are getting treatment.
"These are the ones who commit the crimes," Roach said. "We've done nothing but make it easier for people with mental health issues to walk among us, untreated, and get around firearms."
Roach said mentally ill people don't own firearms but get them from family members or steal them. She encouraged people to make sure their guns are stored with a lock.
Supporters of new gun restrictions have long pushed to background checks to cover all sales, including deals between private parties.
Ralph Fascitelli, president of Washington Ceasefire, said he was encouraged by support of the idea in the Legislature this year, including that of Republican Rep. Mike Hope, a police officer.
Jason Dupea of Tacoma, one of hundreds of people at the rally, suggested it would be better for lawmakers to eliminate "gun-free" zones or strengthen punishments for those who commit crimes with firearms.
Dupea said he's a longtime supporter of gun rights but only recently began joining rallies. He's optimistic that gun owners can block the restrictions being considered by lawmakers.
"I think there's more momentum with the people for their rights than there is with the government for legislation," Dupea said while carrying his M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle. "Eventually, the government has to capitulate to the will of the people."
State lawmakers have proposed a variety of ways to combat gun violence, including an expansion of background checks and allowing teachers to carry weapons.
Supporters of new restrictions are optimistic that some legislation can pass the Legislature this year as lawmakers respond to the mass killing at an elementary school in Connecticut.
Gun advocates argued that new restrictions on gun sales and magazine capacities would infringe on Second Amendment rights.
Many speakers at the rally Friday focused on President Barack Obama and federal efforts to control gun violence. Some shouted to impeach Obama and accused him of committing treason.
Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, encouraged people to make their voices heard and remain politically active to defend gun rights. She said afterward that she'd like to see the state focus on mental health issues and make sure people with mental problems are getting treatment.
"These are the ones who commit the crimes," Roach said. "We've done nothing but make it easier for people with mental health issues to walk among us, untreated, and get around firearms."
Roach said mentally ill people don't own firearms but get them from family members or steal them. She encouraged people to make sure their guns are stored with a lock.
Supporters of new gun restrictions have long pushed to background checks to cover all sales, including deals between private parties.
Ralph Fascitelli, president of Washington Ceasefire, said he was encouraged by support of the idea in the Legislature this year, including that of Republican Rep. Mike Hope, a police officer.
Wow, all those EBR's in one place. I'm sure there were hundreds of mass shootings, right?
An observation of the picture. Â White, older than say...30, and all seems a bit overweight. Â I wonder how many of them are the takers on my tax money.
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I'm really moving toward a state of mind that says if you don't pay taxes, you don't get your guns. Â If you can't keep a job on a regular basis then either the multi-national corporations are corrupt and greedy or you just ain't good for this country.
 @Benjamin Schniffle "I wonder how many of them are the takers on my tax money."Rather, you should wonder how many of them are veterans who served their country and took the day off, or who are retired, or who own their own business and don't have to suck up to a boss to get the day off.But you go ahead and wonder how many are taking your tax money if that makes it easier for you to look down your nose at people and feel better about yourself.
@Benjamin Schniffle So our constitutional rights now have a price is that what you're saying?
 @Benjamin Schniffle So that means you want the ~50% of people who don't pay taxes to be defenseless?
"Christopher Knight, of Everett, Wash., displays a U.S. flag in the barrel of his Ruger 10/22 rifle as he attends a gun rights rally Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash." caption for the pic #1.
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I can be wrong, look at the signs, I think the gun is Carbine M1 civil version, used to be one of the tops before we switched to AR15. In 1967, I was in the RVN ranger and used one M2 (M1 upgraded to fully auto). We changed to M16 (AR15 upgraded) right before Tet event (1968).Â
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BTW, Happy New Year. Also BTW, I personally thank you all for giving me, former VN POW, your open arms; without that, I couldn't make it this far.
No its just a dressed up ruger, that is one of the more popular mods for that rifle. you can tell by the fully enclosed bolt, and the placement of the safety button.
You are right, sigh :)
 @tptpttp For real?
Yes, it's real. When I left for The USA, I had $70 in pocket for a family of 4. I started working after 2 months to study how to speak some basic English, I sturdied English when was in high school, but couldn't speak (I talked, I understood, but the other didn't :) ).
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The first 6 months, I receive food stamp (I took 3 months, after that I had income that exceeded the minimum income, I was nolonger qualifyed), without about $500/month, I didn't survive.
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As a good carpenter, I did give back to sociaty via voluntee work, but I have never thought that my work is enough. Again, thank every American.
The first 6 months, I received (mispell)
meh
The new plan is to ban at least 12M legal arms and grant legal status to 12M foreign imports.
@Ramona Do you mean arms, firearms, or illegal aliens?
 @jpk  @Ramona I mean all of the above & you are perceptive
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How come there were no gangstas visible in any of the photos? Don't they care about firearm ownership rights also? Having one enhances their standing in the gang.
 @jpk Gangstas know that following laws is for suckers.
As a well-trained and experienced gun owner I would like to say that the man in the black jacket carrying the AR-15 in the photograph would have had his s--t stomped by any range officer, DI or firearms instructor I've ever had.You don't sling weapon like Springsteen slings a guitar. Every time he turns around he's pointed that thing at everybody around him, such as the person in blue next to him.  Who knows if that jackass left a round in the chamber.I'd have called him on it.But once again, gun owners are showing the liberals how the polite society gathers without riots, assaults, vandalism or pepper spray.
@Playanekes Which is exactly why we need to tighten up the rules on who can buy what.
 @Playanekes I agree with the safety issue you pointed out. I am waiting to hear about something like what happened at that gun show where the shotgun went off. Too many people and too many firearms in one place is not a good idea.
@swede760 @Playanekes Totally wrong!! Just your uneducated opinion. Too many people and too many guns in one place mean no one is gonna cause a ruckus because they would be the target. So everyone minds their business. That's the facts.
 @Playanekes I was agreeing with you, None must be his IQ
 @None  @swede760  @Playanekes You have no idea who I am or how I'm educated, knuckle-dragger so go find something high and jump off of it. Molon Labe.
 @swede760 If you show up with a gun at a gun show, there's a pile of cops at a table who inspect and tag your weapon so you can't take it in loaded. You could theoretically load one given all the ammunition there but if somebody saw it you'd get taken down. The idea that all gun owners are fat and slow is a liberal construct. I think if you're going to buy a weapon such as an AR-15 or a Glock, during the background check there should also be a notification that you have taken recurring gun safety and security courses which also show that you have had recent instruction in local laws which may have changed since the last time you took the course.On the other hand, at a gun show somebody's more likely to simply say "Excuse me, sir, would you mind pointing that in a safe direction instead of at my pelvis? Thank you." Shame has instructive value among that community.
 @None  @Playanekes  @swede760 I'm from Corbett you ignorant halfwit. Choke yourself.
 @Mechanic  @Playanekes  @swede760 What? Somebody doesn't fit the profile of a gun owner that you've been trying to cram down people's throats?That fries your petty two-dimensional brain, doesn't it?
 @swede760 Okay, well, unlike Occupy, the amount of violence, disease, drug abuse, vandalism and property destruction and gun rallies is radically less. The amount of people accidentally killed by gunfire is about the same.
@Playanekes @swede760 For millionss handling and operating guns has been second nature. Requiring these experienced people to take recurrilng courses is not only an insult, it is actually another restrilction on gun ownership. Of course, if you are from the city and always wipe up to the media I can understand your train of thought. But for me, it's really stupid to start taking recurring courses for the guns I have been shooting regularly for the last 50 yrs.
@swede760 @Playanekes That would be "judgment" and "rallies," though I agree with your point, and though a longtime gun owner (rifle teams, yadayadayada), wouldn't go near one of those places. Even armed.
@Playanekes @swede760 "...should also be a notification that you have taken recurring gun safety and security courses which also show that you have had recent instruction in local laws which may have changed since the last time you took the course..." Good God, man! Did you just say something rational that might, just might, require some new legislation? Uh, that would be gun control, now wouldn't it?
 @Playanekes I agree with you but even in the Military there are some who no matter how much training, that have a lapse of judgement and make a stupid and or fatal mistake. A rally like this just makes the odds of an accident happening go up eponentially. The same can also be said of any Police, or Military gathering, the increased number of weapons increase the odds of an accident happening, that is where intense training comes in, most citizens do not have the Police or Military training for the Assault Weapons they own and way too many learned tactics from watching Rambo. I would just as soon avoid thier Rallys thank you.
Can someone tell me WHY everyone is having such a hard time wrapping their minds around the possibility that the one big answer is to strengthen punishments for those who commit crimes with firearms? Why is that NOT on the table with any of the so called "BILLS" that obama, and the Calif. senator are putting forth. Make ANY crime that is commited with a gun, mandatory 10yrs.minimum in prision. That may have some effect on crime, when they(criminals) see their buddies going down the river for at least 10yrs.
@myopinion240 Because what many people do with firearms, like buy them for people who can't legally possess them or buy them at gun shows, while foolish and dangerous, are not illegal. Yet. But brace yourself. The 'times, they are a changing."
@Mechanic buying a gun for someone else is already a crime. buing one for a felon is a crime, so how will the bills by our illstrious potentate or Senator frankenstein going to do a damn bit of good?
Most gunshows, notice I said most background check their sales. Also it is illegal to straw purchase guns in many states already. Brace myself, hardly, The only thing I will brace myself for is the government to enforce the thousands of laws they already have.Â
Just looks like another tea party rally to me....but, with firearms. Â Good stuff.
@PD1202 Except you have plenty of democrats backing them, including myself.
 @Jeepers  @PD1202 As a Dem myself and pro-gun....we all know, there will be no "assault weapon" ban... it's not realistic.  On the other hand, universal background checks, Mental health priorities and putting a clamp down on gun shows is and should be a priority...and that's something we all should agree on.  There is no reason not to have universal background checks.  The only reason someone has an issue with this is the fact that they have a shady background, and are probably the ones buying firearms at gun shows and from private parties.  Can we agree on that much?
The gunshow myth is really the private sales deal. Oregon doesn't allow for dealers at gun shows or anyone that has a table at a gun show to sell a gun without a background check. So that is why it may be confusing to some Oregonians. However in other states they do allow gun sales at gun shows without background checks. So when they say the gun show stuff they are really refering to private sales. Private sales as a gun owner I dont like. You just don't know who you are selling to even if you think you do you might not know as much as you think. So a universal system that allows private citizens to do background checks and still keep everyone's personal information confidential wouldn't be a bad idea IMO.
@PD1202 @Jeepers How will clamping down on gun shows do a thing? criminals don't buy at gun shows. the gun show loopwhole is a myth used by the anti-freedom zealots to scare the mindless drones that only listen to what the talking head on TV tells them wihout ever looking into the issue.
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 @PD1202 How do you plan to conduct a universal background check on someone whom steals firearms?
 @Jeepers  @PD1202 Thank you, Jeepers.
Guns don't kill people. Russian spies do. Which is why we need less gun restrictions.
@TreeWizard You should have said "fewer," not "less." (If you count them, use "fewer." If you measure it, use "less." i.e., fewer gallons = less water. Or. less gun restriction or fewer gun restrictions.) But you are wrong. While guns may not kill people, they make it all too easy for people to kill people.
@Mechanic
You hurt him bad, thanks :)
 @Ramona  I think I know what you meant to say, and I agree.
 @TreeWizard Illegals. Yep. Ban em!