Houston group protests gun control outside Jackson Lee's office

The view from inside Sheila Jackson Lee's office. (Craig Hlavaty / Houston Chronicle) The view from inside Sheila Jackson Lee's office. (Craig Hlavaty / Houston Chronicle) Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Houston group protests gun control outside Jackson Lee's office 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

A Houston group in favor of arming private citizens for free protested in front of the Heights office of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee this morning.

Kyle Coplen and supporters of his Armed Citizens Project voiced their opposition against Jackson Lee, D-Houston, backing universal background checks, and her involvement with Mothers Demand Action, a gun law organization.

Coplen opened the protest around 10 a.m. by addressing the crowd of around 50 people and restating his goal of arming citizens with Mossberg Maverick 88 shotguns.

"Made in Texas," he said.

Jackson Lee spoke yesterday in Houston to push for gun control and left for Washington, D.C., soon after.

In a press release today regarding the protest, Jackson Lee expressed that the ACP has every right to protest peacefully outside her office, even if she doesn't see eye to eye with them.

"Today persons appeared at my Heights office to protest and I respect those citizens' rights to protest their government," Jackson Lee said. "If that protest is to talk about opposing sensible gun legislation then I will respectfully disagree with their position."

Some protesters brought homemade signs, others had them professionally printed.

A staffer in Jackson Lee's office spoke outside with a member of HPD assigned to the protest.

The officer, who wanted to remain anonymous, said Houston is increasingly gaining a reputation as a protest city. He said he shows up at most every protest, big or small, no matter what the cause, to keep an eye on things.

Michael Halpin, Jackson Lee's district administrator, watched the crowd from inside the office. Coplen came into the office to hand Halpin his business card, offering to meet with Jackson Lee.

Halpin said he thinks that the two could meet once Jackson Lee comes back to town in July.

In her statement today, Jackson Lee reiterate her positions on background checks and gun safety, and said she doesn't fear opposition.

“One thing should be clear, we should not fear each other’s position and I will not fear doing the right thing which is passing sensible gun laws that will not hinder the Constitutional Rights of the American people and my constituents.”

Kenny Webster from the Michael Berry Show was there for a live segment on Berry's radio show, the crowd cheering back at Berry through Webster's cellphone.

ACP supporter Derrick Cavaco laughed at the amount of police monitoring the protest.

"Just because you're passionate, doesn't mean you're dangerous," Cavaco says.