MARTINSBURG, WV - Many Americans fear that the government will change one of its founding Constitutional rights: the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
"The Second Amendment was not written for hunting, the Second Amendment was not written for self-defense, though it functions very well in both, the Second Amendment was written to protect tyranny from our own government," says Chris Anders, State Coordinator with the Campaign for Liberty in West Virginia.
Pro-gun rights groups rallied in Martinsburg to protect the Second Amendment. Some local supporters were as young as middle school-aged children.
"I believe in the right, but I've got arthritis, I might shoot my foot off, but I will fight to the death for the freedom of others to have their weapons and their Second Amendment and their First Amendment," says Stephanie Robinson, a supporter of the Blue Ridge Patriots of West Virginia.
In response to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary, the NRA suggested that armed police be assigned to every school.
"We need to eliminate gun-free zones," adds Anders.
Many protesters don't agree with arming schools but say it's crucial to maintain their gun rights.
"The only thing that stops bad guys with guns are good guys with guns. The answer, unlike what the NRA said, is not to further the military police state that we have but to allow honest, law-abiding citizens the rights given by God, guaranteed in the Constitution to defend themselves," says Anders.
And even with the Bill of Rights in tact, some protesters say there is no one solution to stop violence.
"It's the criminal that kills, whether it's with a knife, gun, airplane, car or you name it, poison; it isn't the gun or knife. For God's sake, we need to protect our children and families. We need to punish the criminals, not just give them a slap on the hand and send them to rehab," adds Robinson.
A serious debate that continues no matter rain, shine or snow.
"The Second Amendment was not written for hunting, the Second Amendment was not written for self-defense, though it functions very well in both, the Second Amendment was written to protect tyranny from our own government," says Chris Anders, State Coordinator with the Campaign for Liberty in West Virginia.
Pro-gun rights groups rallied in Martinsburg to protect the Second Amendment. Some local supporters were as young as middle school-aged children.
"I believe in the right, but I've got arthritis, I might shoot my foot off, but I will fight to the death for the freedom of others to have their weapons and their Second Amendment and their First Amendment," says Stephanie Robinson, a supporter of the Blue Ridge Patriots of West Virginia.
In response to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary, the NRA suggested that armed police be assigned to every school.
"We need to eliminate gun-free zones," adds Anders.
Many protesters don't agree with arming schools but say it's crucial to maintain their gun rights.
"The only thing that stops bad guys with guns are good guys with guns. The answer, unlike what the NRA said, is not to further the military police state that we have but to allow honest, law-abiding citizens the rights given by God, guaranteed in the Constitution to defend themselves," says Anders.
And even with the Bill of Rights in tact, some protesters say there is no one solution to stop violence.
"It's the criminal that kills, whether it's with a knife, gun, airplane, car or you name it, poison; it isn't the gun or knife. For God's sake, we need to protect our children and families. We need to punish the criminals, not just give them a slap on the hand and send them to rehab," adds Robinson.
A serious debate that continues no matter rain, shine or snow.
Comments
I feel sorry for people like Shawn B, he has no clue where the freedom he enjoys came from, kind of like "milk comes from the store" mentality. So many gun laws on the books, every crime violates these laws, thinking more laws will resolve the problem is fantasy thinking. Enforce the myriad of laws we have now and maybe, just maybe, some of the problem may resolve? But laws only affect honest citizens and they are not the problem! "Mantra" please, spare me. Millions of babies killed every year with abortion and you have the nerve to mention a mantra? You took God out of schools, which left a void for evil to take its place. That is the true cause. The blood is on the hands of liberal society!! :-(
Giancarlo D.
December 31, 2012 at 7:35 am
Shawn B., why the anger and name calling? I know most of those in attendance and they just wanted to make their point of view known, peaceably. How is that or their view harmful and deserving of all that anger? When is exercising one's 1st Amendment rights a bad thing? And, when is exercising our 2nd Amendment rights a bad thing? One of the guys being interviewed made a very interesting and disturbing point; every totalitarian regime first starts by taking personal guns. We are free because we are armed!
Samson W.
December 30, 2012 at 11:27 am
THIS is why MTV is making a show that pokes fun at WV. Where does one start....the stupidity and ignorance of these gun freaks are overwhelming. It would not matter if 10,000 children had been murdered. Their mantra would still be the same. They do not value human life.
Shawn B.
December 30, 2012 at 7:07 am
