GLENDALE — Gun-owners and gun-lovers converged on Infinity Park on Saturday afternoon in a last-minute protest against a new Colorado law banning the sale of magazines of more than 15 rounds.

“You are in the Vatican of liberty, the Luxembourg of freedom,” Glendale Mayor Mike Dunfon told the crowd at the beginning of the rally.

Organizers say some 5,000 people attended the “Farewell to Arms Freedom” festival, which was hosted by Free Colorado, a nonprofit group that advocates for firearms rights.

Hours before the event began, people formed a line over a half- mile long outside the park. The first 1,500 who were at least 18 years old were handed tickets they could redeem for a free 30-round magazine, courtesy of Magpul Industries.

Magpul donated a total of 20,000 magazines for the event, which featured live music, speakers and food. All the free magazines arrived, with great fanfare, via helicopter. The rest were sold at a discounted price of $10, with all of the proceeds going to the group’s recall efforts against state Senate President John Morse and state Sen. Angela Giron, both Democrats.

The Erie-based manufacturer of magazines and firearm accessories announced earlier this year that it would leave the state if the ban became law. The company has yet to say where it will relocate, but says it is in talks with other states.

Some people came to enjoy the event, some came to show their opposition to the new law, which takes effect Monday, and others, such as Fred Bell, came for the magazines.

Bell, 62, said he came to the event mostly for the magazines, which won’t be available to customers under the new ban, but said that it was still important to show support for citizens’ constitutional rights. He also complimented Magpul on the company’s plan to leave Colorado.

“I really applaud them for moving out because it’s really going to affect state revenue,” Bell said.

The ban, as well as another new law requiring universal background checks, sparked contentious debate during this year’s legislative session. The laws, which were signed in March by Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, also prompted the recall efforts and a federal lawsuit from a majority of Colorado sheriffs.

Matthew Patane: 303-954-5224, mpatane@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mattpatane