Local Group Hosts Open Carry Gun Rally
By: Danielle Woods
Updated: January 26, 2013
Today in Perry Square, a small group of people gathered in continued support of Pennsylvania's law allowing people to openly carry weapons.
Rally coordinator and founder of Open Carry Pennsylvania, Justin Dillon, said today's event wasn't well attended due to frigid temperatures and the fact that the rally was planned just a couple of weeks ago.
Dillon's reason for today's rally was simple.
"House bill 357 is going through Harrisburg. We're trying to get support for that. The bill constitutes that the federal government cannot take our firearms away under any ban," Dillon says.
Another gun advocate in attendance, Chris Phillips, said people aren't aware of their rights, and that individuals should carry guns to protect the most vulnerable people in our community: children.
"We as a nation will protect celebrities, presidents, senators....but the last folks we are willing to guard is our children," Phillips said.
The views expressed at today's rally do not reflect those of the entire Erie area. The debate over gun control is something that will continue to rage on both in the community, and nationwide.
