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Hundreds rally to protect gun owners' rights

OLYMPIA, Wash. — More than a thousand advocates gathered in Olympia Saturday to fight for the right to bear arms.

The rally was part of a national movement in support of the rights of gun owners.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Deborah Horne spoke with a few advocates at the rally.

David Taylor, of Yakima, told the crowd that he plans to introduce legislation to protect the rights of gun owners in the state.

“Our rights come from God. Not from the government,” said Taylor. “The government did not give us those rights, and it cannot take them away. This is our line in the sand. We will not go quietly into the night.”

Many other gun rights advocates took a stand and delivered their message that the right to bear arms is sacred.

“But I feel it’s something that’s being exploited by gun prohibitionists to try to take away the rest of our important rights,” said Andrew McConaghy.

Taylor, a state legislator, promised to take the fight to his colleagues and will soon introduce the Firearms Freedom Act.

“And that legislation includes the statement any federal rule, law regulation or order attempting to ban or register firearms or magazines, unenforceable in Washington state,” said Taylor.

Supporter Linda Siler was glad to be a part of the rally.

“Ever since these shootings have happened, it’s really taken away from the preamble of the second amendment, which says that our second amendment is about keeping our government from infringing on us,” said Siler.

Similar rallies were held around the country on Saturday.

In Texas, a lawmaker proposed legislation that would block any federal ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. If it ever became a law, it would violate the U.S. Constitution.

In New York, thousands voiced their opposition to a federal weapons ban. People rallied because they wanted federal lawmakers to reconsider the recent policy change concerning weapons.