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WEBVTT SECONDLY, THE RALLY SENT ALLOWED MESSAGE. REPRESENTATIVE BERNSTINE: JU WANT YOU TO KNOW IT IS GREAT PLEASURE TO BE STANDING HERE WITH A BUNCH OF GUN-CARRYING, FLAG-WAVING, NATIONAL ANTHEM-STANDING, PATRIOT BUNCH OF DEPLORABLES. SHELDON: THEY FLOODED GRANT STREET WITH GUNS AND FLAGS. GUN OWNERS DELIVERED A UNIFIED MESSAGE TO MAYOR BILL PEDUTO AND CITY COUNCIL. THE CITY CANNOT CREATE ITS OWN GUN LAWS BY BANNING ASSAULT-STYLE FIREARMS. REPRESENTATIVE BERNSTINE: I’M A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND THIS MAYOR, HIS COUNCIL, AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW. SHELDON: THEY SAY WHAT THE CITY IS ATTEMPTING IS A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW. >> THE PEOPLE IN THE POWER OF MAYOR PEDUTO ARE IGNORANT OF FIREARMS AND DON’T HAVE THE SLIGHTEST CLUE OF WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT. SO NOW HE THINKS HE CAN BREAK THE LAW, CHANGE THE LAW, AND THAT HE’S ABOVE THE LAW. >> NO TOWNSHIP OR MUNICIPALITY CAN PASS THEIR OWN LAW ABOUT FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION. >> NOBODY HERE HAS AN ASSAULT WEAPON. THAT IS A BLACK LABLE THEY WANT TO USE. SHELDON: JUSTIN DILLON IS THE RALLY ORGANIZERS AND HOPES TO ADDRESSS CITY COUNCIL. MR. DILLON: IF THEY’RE REALLY FOR THEIR CITIZENS AND THEY REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING, THEN JUST REACH OUT TO US. WE ARE VERY OPEN TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY AND WANT TO TALK ABOUT. LET’S ACTUALLY MAKE SOME REAL CHANGES. SHELDON: PROPOSED GUN LAWS WILL BE TAKEN UP BY CITY COUNCIL IN A COUPLE WEEKS, AND GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATES INTEND TO BE THERE. JANELLE: THANK YOU. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4 REPORTER BOB MAYO CONTINUES OUR COVEAGE NOW. MIKE: BOB, YOU SPOKE TO LOCAL LEADERS. WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT THIS RALLY? BOB: THEY ARE SAYING THIS IS HOW THE AMERICAN SYSTEM AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH WORK. THEY ARE PLEASED THINGS WENT SMOOTHLY ON GRANT STREET WITH NO PROBLEMS REPORTED BY POLICE. AS GUN RIGHTS PROTESTORS RALLIED ON THE STEPS OF THE CITY COUNTY BUILDING, PITTSBURGH POLICE AND OFFICIALS KEPT A WATCHFUL EYE. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. OFFICERS CLOSED JUST ONE LANE INBOUND BY THE RALLY TO ACCOMMODATE PROTESTORS AND TRAFFIC. >> THE ORGANIZERS HAVE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE. THEY APPLIED AND RECEIVED A PERMIT. AND THEY’VE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE WITH US, AND SO FAR, IT’S BEEN A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. BOB: AS FOR THIS OUTPOURING OF OPPOSITION TO THE LEGISLATION BY GUN ADVOCATES, PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT BRUCE KRAUS SAYS THAT’S HOW FREE SPEECH WORKS. MR. KRAUS: AND THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE AND ASSEMBLE PEACEFULLY AND TO MAKE THEIR PROTEST. SO IN THAT REGAD, I SUPPORT IT. IN REGARD TO THE LEGISLATION, THOUGH, I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ON SOLID LEGAL GROUND. BOB: THERE WAS NO COUNTER-DEMONSTRATION. SOME PEOPLE WHO FEEL STRONGLY ON THE OTHER SIDE DID SHOW ACROSS THE STREET, INCLUDING A BRASS QUINTET PLAYING TRADITIONAL JEWISH MELODIES. >> THIS RALLY WAS PUT TOGETHER BY PEOPLE FROM ERIE AND UPSTATE PENNSYLVANIA, NOT FROM PITTSBURGHERS. >> I FEEL LIKE THIS EVENT IS VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE VICTIMS OF THE SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING. THAT JUST HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. I FEEL LIKE THAT THEY ARE PARADING THEIR WEAPONS ON THE VICTIMS, ON THE GRAVES OF THE VICTIMS. BOB: PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL WAS NOT IN SESSION TODAY, WAS NOT SCHEDULE

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Hundreds of people, many of them openly carrying guns, gathered downtown Monday to protest new restrictions being proposed on some firearms and ammunition in Pittsburgh.However, the rally began by remembering the victims slain in the Tree of Life Synagogue mass shooting, as organizers held a lengthy moment of silence outside the City-County Building.Immediately after, sharp rhetoric took aim at Pittsburgh's newly proposed gun laws.Gun rights advocates rallied in response to the City Council considering a ban on semi-automatic rifles and certain ammunition and accessories within Pittsburgh city limits. Click here for the full story.FULL VIDEO: Tap the video player below to watch the rally.The bills were introduced last month in the wake of the October massacre at the synagogue in Squirrel Hill, where 11 people were killed.Gun rights activists decried the proposals, contending that the restrictions would violate Pennsylvania law.State law prohibits municipalities from regulating firearms.The protest was organized by Justin Dillon, of Erie, who founded the advocacy group Open Carry Pennsylvania."Nobody here has an assault weapon. That is a black label they want to use," Dillon said.State Rep. Aaron Bernstine, of the 10th District, said what Mayor Bill Peduto and the City Council are attempting to do is illegal."I'm a member of the General Assembly of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and this mayor, his council and the district attorney are breaking the law," said Bernstine, R-Ellwood City.Speakers included Kaitlin Bennett, who drew attention when she posted photos of herself on the Kent State University campus with an AR-10 and a mortar board reading "Come and take it."As gun rights protesters rallied on the steps of the City-County Building, Pittsburgh police officers and Public Safety officials kept a watchful eye. There was no conflict. Officers closed one inbound lane of Grant Street to accommodate protesters and traffic."The organizers have been very cooperative," Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said. "They applied and received a permit, and they've been very cooperative with us, and so far it's been a very good experience for public safety."As for the outpouring of opposition by gun advocates, City Council President Bruce Kraus said that's how free speech works."They have every right to assemble peacefully and to make their protest, so in that regard, I support it," Kraus said. "In regard to the legislation, though, I believe that we are on solid legal ground.""I think people are misunderstanding the situation a little bit. They think we're getting rid of all guns," Councilman Corey O'Connor said. "I'd just like to let them know that if you follow the language in the bill, it's assault weapons, it's bump stocks, it's things like that.There was no organized counterdemonstration, but some people who feel strongly on the other side of the issue did show up across the street. A handful of them held signs displaying their messages across the street, including "Love your neighbor, don't threaten them with guns," "Guns are a public health crisis" and "Keep your guns away from our kids."Among those who came to send an alternative message to the gun rights advocates was a brass quintet playing traditional Jewish melodies. One of the musicians was Herbie Hunkley, of New Castle."I feel like this event is very disrespectful to the victims of the synagogue shooting that just happened a couple of months ago," Hunkley said. "I feel like that they are parading their weapons on the victims, on the graves of the victims.""And I think it takes great insensitivity for them to bring this here now," said Mary Beth Salana, of Fox Chapel. "I'm a member of the Jewish community. It's just terrible timing.""I don't like people coming in from out of town, threatening us with guns in Pittsburgh," said Kathy Coudriet, of the North Side.