DEERFIELD, N.Y. -- Gun rights advocates are standing behind a Central New York homeowner who shot and killed two people who were attempting to burglarize his home earlier this week.

More than $6,000 has been raised in a GoFundMe campaign to help Ronald Stolarczyk with his legal fees.

Stolarczyk, 64, of Deerfield, was charged with having an unregistered handgun after he shot the people who were burglarizing his home, police said. He was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, a felony, and remains in jail.

Aaron Dorn, of New Hartford, started the GoFundMe campaign on Wednesday and the campaign raised $6,100 by Friday afternoon. Stolarczyk’s lawyer, Mark Wolber, said he met with Dorn today about transferring the money to pay for his client’s legal fees.

In the campaign, Dorn called Stolarczyk’s arrest un-American and unconstitutional.

“People have a right to keep and bear arms and defend their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Dorn wrote. “And government shouldn’t be violating or infringing on those rights. Those rights that men and woman died for. What is happening to this man is an offense to every American living and dead...”

On Tuesday, Stolarczyk was in his kitchen when he heard people inside his attached garage, Wolber told the The Post-Standard | Syracuse.com earlier this week. Stolarczyk yelled for them stop but they didn’t. He picked up handgun that was on the kitchen counter and fired three to four shots at the intruders, Wolber said.

The handgun was unregistered. Stolarczyk told authorities the gun was his father’s, and when his father died he forgot to register it, according to Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara.

The two intruders he shot and killed have been identified as Patricia Anne Talerico, 57, and Nicholas A. Talerico, 27, of Utica, according to New York State Police. The aunt and nephew were burglarizing the home at 6110 Walker Road in Deerfield, police said.

Stolarczyk appears to be a hoarder, McNamara said, and among the items he collected were Commodore and Atari computers. McNamara said investigators believe the Talericos were under the mistaken impression that the home was vacant.

The home, which has no electricity and no running water, has been condemned due to its condition, McNamara said.

Stolarczyk has cooperated fully, and told authorities he shot the two in the front area of their bodies as they came at him, the DA said.

McNamara has said there is nothing to indicate this wasn’t a justifiable homicide. But he stressed he can’t make a final ruling until the investigation is complete.

Gun rights advocates are backing Stolarczyk by giving money and posting supportive messages.

“This is more then what happened in Ronald’s home, this is about standing up to tyranny, a tyrannical government that does not respect the constitution or the people,” Dorn wrote in the GoFundMe campaign that features a second amendment logo.

“All money raised will be used to hire a legal defense team in the hopes of setting a precedent that we the people want our rights back and we will not stand for a government that infringes on our rights,” Doran wrote.