Concord, NH – Gun rights advocates gathered at noon today on the state house front lawn for a rally and to sign a petition to be presented to the governor. The petition says that the state has no authority to impose further gun control regulations. Theme of the rally was published as “a line in granite”, a take-off on the phrase “a line in the sand”.
This rally was supported by the Rochester 912 Project and the Granite State Patriots. Weather for today started with record warm temperatures of about 60 degrees with high wind and rain but the skies had cleared by the time sponsors started preparing their tables about 11AM.
Attendance was “better than anticipated” according to one sponsor. Although it officially started at noon, crowds were still arriving after 12:30 PM with some saying finding parking was almost impossible.
The crowd was orderly and attentive to speakers who included “Patriot Pastor”, or Garret Lear in real life, who gave the invocation and then gave a rousing speech that lasted about 20 minutes. Other speakers included Jack Kimball, a former candidate for governor and chair of the state GOP.
Many of the attendees proudly carried guns of all types, ages, and calibers. Some had antique military rifles with their bayonets extended and flags attached to them. Some shouldered “assault rifles” that they made certain to proclaim were not “assault rifles” but “defense rifles”.
At the same time, a new poll was published late last week by New England College that found that over 70% of New Hampshire voters support a ban on assault rifles and almost 90% favor background checks for all gun purchases.
The petition that was signed today will be presented to Governor Maggie Hassan, Democrat, who has publicly stated support for the Second Amendment but with “common sense” restrictions.
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