Dueling gun rallies to take place at state Capitol

Jan. 23, 2013

Any guesses which side will receive positive coverage by the media?

There’s going to be a showdown at the state Capitol on Wednesday over the raging gun debate that has taken hold across the nation in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting.

Gathering on the building’s front steps at 10 a.m. will be the Pennsylvania Responsible Citizens to speak out in defense of the Second Amendment at a rally and followed by a march around the Capitol.

At noon, CeaseFire PA and its supporters will gather in the East Wing Rotunda for a "Day of Action" to a call for action to stop gun violence in Pennsylvania.

This will be followed at 1 p.m. with a prayer vigil organized by Heeding God's Call, a Philadelphia faith-based and grassroots movement, for those who lost their lives due to gun violence and to change attitudes and measures about guns.

Capitol police are beefing up their numbers as they would for any rally that is expected to draw a large crowd, said Troy Thompson, a spokesman for the state Department of General Services, which oversees the Capitol Police.

He said the gun rights’ rally organizers are expecting 100 to 150 participants while CeaseFire representatives advised that it expects as many as 250 people.

Rally organizers have been advised of the rules and behavior expectations, Thompson said.

The Pennsylvania Responsible Citizens include a statement on their website that participants “must be aware that it will receive a high degree of scrutiny” and “a constant state of decorum, dignity and respect must be displayed.”

Thompson said additional staff will be available to help, if necessary, to check in weapons that visitors may bring with them. But other than that, he said Capitol police are not altering their protocol for keeping order at the Capitol.

This post has been updated.

source; pennlive