Tim Lesmeister will never forget May 7, 1981.

It was the day he survived a mass shooting at the Oregon Museum Tavern in Salem, where a gunman killed four and wounded 20.

He can still remember every detail, he said. The feeling of not being able to protect himself is something no one can understand unless they have been through it.

"I wish I would have had a concealed carry at that time," said Lesmeister, 62. "Maybe I could have helped prevent deaths, maybe not. I don’t know."

Today, he is a concealed carrier, and his right to protect himself is one of the reasons he attended the Defend the 2nd Rally at the Oregon State Capitol Saturday.

Roughly 2,000 people were in attendance around noon when the event began.

Radian Weapons and Noveske Rifleworks, both Oregon-based weapon manufacturers, organized Saturday's rally after a number of bills calling for stricter gun-laws were proposed during the 2019 legislative session.

Josh Underwood, CEO of Radian Weapons, said he has been shooting since his childhood and is a big advocate for the second amendment. Learning about the proposed bills pushed him to take a stand by helping organize the rally.

Proposed regulations include limiting ammunition purchases, raising the age to purchase assault rifles to 21 and mandatory gun locks, among other things.

More details:Oregon lawmakers debate multiple bills to make gun laws more restrictive

The proposed bills aim to prevent epidemics including domestic violence, gun violence and suicide — like House Bill 2705, which focuses on mental health and suicide. It would allow people to opt into "do not sell" lists voluntarily.

Or Senate Bill 501 — the strictest proposed firearm bill — which includes limiting ammunition purchases to 20 rounds in a 30-day period and mandating gun locks and safes.

Becky Graff, 44, of Lebanon, said she is against any infringements on her rights; restrictions on ammunition and what she can or cannot buy is an infringement.

"The second amendment was not created for hunting, it was created to protect us from a tyrannical government," she said.

Lesmeister said he was particularly against Senate Bill 501 because it would limit his ammunition while "the outlaws have no limits."

A point Underwood touched on, as well. He said restricting the right to bear arms to prevent violence is flawed and would only embolden criminals.

The Defend the 2nd Rally lasted until about 5 p.m. and featured live music, food trucks and multiple speakers throughout the day including Senator Kim Thatcher and Representative Bill Post, R-Keizer.

Violence has always been a part of humanity, Post said in his speech. It's not going anywhere, but guns are not the problem.

"Guns have been here for hundreds of years. We have a heart problem in America," he said.

Abby Luschei is a reporter for the Statesman Journal; she can be reached at aluschei@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6747. Follow her on Twitter @abbyluschei or facebook.com/luscheiabby.