Liberal Forum

Correct me if I'm wrong but the NRA leadership is against universal background checks, are they not? Do these people look like they might be the NRA? All of these people oppose "universal background checks", and they certainly look like the type of reasonable and responsible gun owners who would support the NRA. You poll is manipulated, in fact, it's downright false. Anyone in touch with middle America knows better. http://www.dailymail...es-country.html Thousands of gun advocates gathered peacefully Saturday at state capitals around the U.S. to rally against stricter limits on firearms, with demonstrators carrying rifles and pistols in some places while those elsewhere settled for waving hand-scrawled signs or screaming themselves hoarse. The size of crowds at each location varied - from dozens of people in South Dakota to 2,000 in New York. Large crowds also turned out in Connecticut, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington state. Some demonstrators in Olympia, Wash., Phoenix, Salem, Ore., and Salt Lake City came with holstered handguns or rifles on their backs. At the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort, attendees gave a special round of applause for 'the ladies that are packin'. Representing: In Albany, New York, an estimated two thousand people rallied outside the State Capitol brandishing signs, flags and weapons Hartford: A man who refused to be identified holds an AR-15 semi-automatic riffle with a green and white ribbon reading Newtown at the Capitol in Hartford, Connecticut Clear message: Jared Jeanotte of Long Island, New York, displays a hand-made sign depicting an AK15 rifle and its alleged purpose to kill fascists Activists promoted the 'Guns Across America' rallies primarily through social media. They were being held just days after President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping package of federal gun-control proposals. The crowd swelled to more than 800 amid balmy temperatures on the steps of the pink-hued Capitol in Austin, where speakers took the microphone under a giant Texas flag with 'Independent' stamped across it. Homemade placards read 'An Armed Society is a Polite Society,' 'The Second Amendment Comes from God' and 'Hey King O., I'm keeping my guns and my religion.' 'The thing that so angers me, and I think so angers you, is that this president is using children as a human shield to advance a very liberal agenda that will do nothing to protect them,' said state Rep. Steve Toth, referencing last month's elementary school massacre in Newtown, Conn. Toth, a first-term Republican lawmaker from The Woodlands outside Houston, has introduced legislation banning within Texas any future federal limits on assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, though such a measure would violate the U.S. Constitution. According to organizers an estimated 1,800 people from throughout Oklahoma crowded into the south plaza at the state Capitol to voice their support for their second amendment rights Attacks: A protestor holds a sign showing Gov Andrew Cuomo's face, four days after he signed the nation's toughest assault weapon and magazine restrictions for the state Speaker: New York Assemblyman Steven F. McLaughlin called Gov Cuomo's new law an 'abuse of power' before the thousands of protestors Rallies at statehouses nationwide were organized by Eric Reed, an airline captain from the Houston area who in November started a group called 'More Gun Control (equals) More Crime.' Its Facebook page has been 'liked' by more than 17,000 people. Texas law allows concealed handgun license-holders to carry firearms anywhere, but Reed said rally-goers shouldn't expose their weapons: 'I don't want anyone to get arrested.' A man who identified himself only as 'Texas Mob Father' carried a camouflaged assault rifle strapped to his back during the Austin rally, but he was believed to be the only one to display a gun. Radio personality Alan LaFrance told the crowd he brought a Glock 19, but he kept it out of sight. At the New York state Capitol in Albany, about 2,000 people turned out for a chilly rally, where they chanted 'We the People,' 'USA,' and 'Freedom.' Many carried American flags and 'Don't Tread On Me' banners. The event took place four days after Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the nation's toughest assault weapon and magazine restrictions. Republican Assemblyman Steven McLaughlin said the new law was 'abuse of power' by the governor. Some in the crowd carried 'Impeach Cuomo' signs. Protester Robert Candea called the restrictions 'an outrage against humanity.' Voices heard: Braving the cold, the protestors passionately turned out to send a message to legislatures around the country All the people: A little girl carried her own colorful sign on the shoulders of a male protestor Magazine rights: Sisters Naphtali Rothrock, left, and Naomi Rothrock, both of Sprakers, New York joined the thousands in Albany Representing: John Noto of Springville, New York holds two signs attacking Gov Cuomo and representing his political views as a Conservative America