As Senate Democrats launched a filibuster Wednesday, demanding a vote on new gun-control measures, David Blanton, of Top Gun Shooting, said law-abiding citizens are being targeted once again."It's not the weapon that carries out an assault. It's the person and that's where (lawmakers) keep missing the boat," Blanton said.Blanton, a former Spartanburg County sheriff's deputy, owns three AR-15 rifles, the same type of weapon that was used to kill 49 people inside an Orlando nightclub."The firearms that are on the hood of this vehicle, if we walk away and never touch them and nobody else comes down here to touch them, they'll lay right there forever," Blanton said.Blanton said the rifles are popular among gun enthusiasts because they're compact, lightweight and "great for hunting."He also said collectors are snapping up AR-15s because it's their Second Amendment right."We're scared the government is going to come along and try to tell us they're taking away these rights," he said.Despite the recent shootings, the prospects for legislation seem unlikely.Last December, Senate Republicans joined the National Rifle Association in opposing legislation that would have let the government bar sales of guns and explosives to people it suspects of being terrorists."Who's going to define what an assault weapon is and how often are they going to change it?" Blanton said.

As Senate Democrats launched a filibuster Wednesday, demanding a vote on new gun-control measures, David Blanton, of Top Gun Shooting, said law-abiding citizens are being targeted once again.

"It's not the weapon that carries out an assault. It's the person and that's where (lawmakers) keep missing the boat," Blanton said.


Blanton, a former Spartanburg County sheriff's deputy, owns three AR-15 rifles, the same type of weapon that was used to kill 49 people inside an Orlando nightclub.

"The firearms that are on the hood of this vehicle, if we walk away and never touch them and nobody else comes down here to touch them, they'll lay right there forever," Blanton said.

Blanton said the rifles are popular among gun enthusiasts because they're compact, lightweight and "great for hunting."

He also said collectors are snapping up AR-15s because it's their Second Amendment right.

"We're scared the government is going to come along and try to tell us they're taking away these rights," he said.

Despite the recent shootings, the prospects for legislation seem unlikely.

Last December, Senate Republicans joined the National Rifle Association in opposing legislation that would have let the government bar sales of guns and explosives to people it suspects of being terrorists.



"Who's going to define what an assault weapon is and how often are they going to change it?" Blanton said.



