“I’m pro-gun, change my mind”: NCCPA activists hold rally at capitol

Madalyn O'Neill by Madalyn O'Neill

As the farmers’ market occupied the Capitol Square Saturday, activists held a pro-gun rally on the Capitol steps hoping to start a conversation.

A week after the student-led march against the National Rifle Association, members of the National Constitutional Coalition of Patriotic Americans said they wanted to engage with people at the capitol who may have different perspectives.

“There are a lot of people here with a lot of different viewpoints,” Matthew Timmons said in a speech. He attended another pro-gun rally at the Capitol in April.

“We are here to explain why we have this (Second Amendment) right,” he said.

Along with about six speakers, who touched on how they feel their First Amendment rights are also being threatened by censorship from social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, the group set up a debate table with the sign, “I’m pro-gun. Change my mind.”

“I&39;m pro-gun change my mind.”

As part of the pro-gun rally, organizers are hoping to start civil conversation. @WISCTV_News3 pic.twitter.com/wGCRmJ1TXe — Madalyn O&39;Neill (@news3madalyn) August 11, 2018

“We have a debate table for civil debate where people can civilly express thoughts and opinions as long as they can keep a cool head,” said Thomas Leager, head of the local NCCPA chapter and rally organizer.

Although not everyone kept their cool, others, like passerby Jim Lorman, were happy to strike up a conversation.

“I wouldn’t ordinarily stop at something like this, but I saw the sign,” he said, adding that while he and the group could find some common ground on gun guidelines, he questions the way the sign is framed.

“From my perspective, it’s clear the majority of the public throughout the country favors sensible gun controls like universal background checks and bans on assault rifles and things like that,” Lorman said. “To say you’re anti-gun or pro-gun makes the dialogue more difficult rather than easier.”

“There’s a lot of issues in the country with gun control, and the conversation needs to happen,” farmer’s market attendee Todd Young said.

Some watching nearby, including Young, said the pro-gun group is intimidating.

“They’re carrying multiple guns,” he said. “That’s not an environment to have a discussion.”

Leager wants to make sure all voices are heard.

“Our right to speak and right to bear arms go hand-in-hand,” Leager said. “It’s not about being safe, it’s about being free. And I get it, I sympathize and I really feel for people who have kids die in these shootings, but I don’t want to be a victim.”

COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.