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Pro-gun demonstrators rally on the steps of the Oregon Capitol Friday shortly before setting fire to an effigy of Gov. Kate Brown. The burning immediately was denounced by not only Brown, but by some pro-gun Oregon legislators.

(Mike Bivins via Eugene Weekly)

Pro-gun demonstrators, many of them armed, gathered on the front steps of the Oregon Capitol on Friday and burned an effigy of Gov. Kate Brown before going into the building to meet with legislators.

Brown's office, noting that the governor was out of town and not present to witness the burning, promptly condemned the action.

"Hate adds nothing to civic discourse," said Kristen Grainger, Brown's spokeswoman. "Misogyny, even when hiding behind free speech, is still misogyny."

Demonstration organizers initially said they expected "thousands" to attend the rally. Ultimately, it appeared that maybe 100 showed up.

One attendee, flying a large Confederate flag from the bed of his pickup, parked nearby.

Pro-gun rally in Salem hangs and burns Gov. Brown in effigy https://t.co/Ww1QHKXOtd pic.twitter.com/1C7cl9A1Zd — KOIN News (@KOINNews) September 23, 2016

Demonstrators gave speeches, passed out pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution and generally denounced the role of government before setting fire to a small, spectacle-wearing effigy of Brown.

Oregon State Police stepped up their usual presence at the Capitol in response to the rally.

"Any time there's a larger presence at the Capitol, we also want to increase our presence to keep people safe," said Capt. Bill Fugate, a spokesman for the Oregon State Police. "Today, in the interest of public safety, we increased our staffing levels."

Officers informed anyone who wanted to openly carry a firearm in the Capitol that they had to produce a concealed handgun permit. About one dozen did.

State police supervisors eventually sent officers elsewhere as it became clear that the originally expected numbers weren't going to show up, Fugate said.

Brown's office had already stepped up security measures this year, citing threats that started with the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation and continued after Brown called for tighter gun rules in Oregon. Among the changes, some which officials wouldn't disclose, her state police security detail added a sixth member.

Rep. Bill Post, R-Keizer, said on his blog Friday that though he considers himself a "gun guy" and disagrees with Brown on gun control, "just because we disagree on almost everything in politics, doesn't mean we don't respect nor care for each other. I hope she feels the same about me."

"Today these people entered a whole new world of horrible wrong," he wrote. "They didn't just rally, they didn't just give a speech, they did something SO deplorable I am loathe to even post it here. THIS DOES NOT HELP OUR CAUSE!!!"

Post went on to "disassociate himself" from the group, whose members he said he invited to his office. He called on other gun rights supporters to publicly condemn the effigy.

"I had been in support of their 'open carry' rally and in fact invited them to come talk to me in my office," Post wrote. "Then I saw these pictures. I am ashamed of this behavior and first apologize on behalf of the firearm community to Gov. Kate Brown, and apologize myself personally to Gov. Brown."

In a statement, the president of Oregonians for Gun Safety, which advocates for stricter gun laws, also denounced what she called "today's revolting display of violence."

"Regardless of where you stand on gun violence prevention, we should all agree that hate-fueled aggression has no place in our political discourse," Jenn Lynch said. "As tensions run high and political speech turns violent across the country, now is the time for our leaders to speak out, loudly, in opposition to this group and their display."

-- Dana Tims

503-294-7647; @DanaTims