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Three people who brought firearms to the opening festivities of Gathering Place on Saturday were turned away from the property, according to the Tulsa Police Department.

Two of those people were part of a gun rights advocacy group that Sgt. Chris Witt declined to identify. One man, Tim Harper, who had a holstered handgun strapped to his waist, told a Tulsa World photographer that he was a member of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association.

“I hate to give them a lot of publicity because that’s what they want,” Witt said.

Witt said the group contacted city, police and park officials in advance to notify them that members planned to bring guns into the park. The rules of the park prohibit firearms.

In a statement, Gathering Place officials said firearms are not conducive to creating a welcoming environment.