Parents take their CHILDREN to join heavily-armed pro-gun protesters

Young children were seen among dozens of heavily-armed protesters gathered in Boulder, Colorado, to show their anger at plans to ban assault rifles. 

Many people at Saturday’s rally carried weapons that would become illegal if the proposed ban is passed by Boulder City Council, including AR-15 style rifles like the one used to shoot 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

The ordinance, which has passed its first reading, would outlaw the sale and possession of assault weapons – defined as semi-automatic rifles or handguns with detachable magazines.

Jody Johnson (left) carrying a Sig Sauer MCX rifle stands with her son Ryatt at a pro-gun rally on Saturday in Boulder, Colorado. The city is considering enacting an ordinance that will ban the sale and possession of assault weapons

Protest organizer Jason Boros was joined by around 200 demonstrators carrying placards including 'I will not comply' and 'I love the second amendment'

Protest organizer Jason Boros was joined by around 200 demonstrators carrying placards including ‘I will not comply’ and ‘I love the second amendment’

The ordinance, which has passed its first reading, would outlaw the sale and possession of assault weapons - defined as semi-automatic rifles or handguns with detachable magazines. These protesters openly carried rifles and pistols

The ordinance, which has passed its first reading, would outlaw the sale and possession of assault weapons – defined as semi-automatic rifles or handguns with detachable magazines. These protesters openly carried rifles and pistols

One man carries a banner with a verse from Luke 22:36 while another holds one stating 'guns are not an issue' at Saturday's rally

One man carries a banner with a verse from Luke 22:36 while another holds one stating ‘guns are not an issue’ at Saturday’s rally

Protest organizer Jason Boros told the Daily Camera he sees the legislation as ‘extreme’. He was joined by around 200 demonstrators carrying placards including ‘I will not comply’ and ‘I love the second amendment’. 

Jody Johnson carried a Sig Sauer MCX rifle while walking hand-in-hand with her son, Ryatt, who held a sign which read, ‘Gun free zones are sitting duck zones’. 

Another protester, who gave his name only as Brandon, came armed with an AR-15, as did his wife. 

They had decided to bring along their two young children, he said, to show that ‘average families’ owned rifles that would be banned under the new law. 

One man carried a copy of the US Constitution while another had the second amendment tattooed on his forearm.

Ty Lawson, meanwhile, claimed the planned ordinance was a ‘knee jerk’ to mass shootings, adding: ‘I don’t feel my Second Amendment rights should be infringed upon because of it.’ 

Organizers had told protesters to avoid partisan political symbols, such as Confederate flags or pro-Trump merchandise, and this order was largely abided by. There was a similar rally on Saturday in Washington. 

There was no counter-demonstration, although some drivers swore at the protesters as they passed, and one man shouted ‘stop killing kids’.  

Organizers had told protesters to avoid partisan political symbols, such as Confederate flags or pro-Trump merchandise, and this order was largely abided by

Organizers had told protesters to avoid partisan political symbols, such as Confederate flags or pro-Trump merchandise, and this order was largely abided by

Johnson and her son, Ryatt, walk along the sidewalk past crowds of protesters. There was no counter-demonstration, although some drivers swore at the protesters as they passed, and one man shouted 'stop killing kids'

Johnson and her son, Ryatt, walk along the sidewalk past crowds of protesters. There was no counter-demonstration, although some drivers swore at the protesters as they passed, and one man shouted ‘stop killing kids’

Daniel Fithian holds his Scar 16S .556 rifle and a Gadsden revolutionary-era flag at a pro-gun rally in downtown Boulder on Saturday

Daniel Fithian holds his Scar 16S .556 rifle and a Gadsden revolutionary-era flag at a pro-gun rally in downtown Boulder on Saturday

Men wearing shirts emblazoned with the words 'for God and county' and 'bleed red white and blue' stand by the road during a pro-gun rally in Boulder on Saturday

Men wearing shirts emblazoned with the words ‘for God and county’ and ‘bleed red white and blue’ stand by the road during a pro-gun rally in Boulder on Saturday

Arguments in favour of controlling the sale of assault rifles have gained momentum in recent months but have been vigorously resisted by protesters including the ones gathered in Boulder on Saturday

Arguments in favour of controlling the sale of assault rifles have gained momentum in recent months but have been vigorously resisted by protesters including the ones gathered in Boulder on Saturday

This man held a sign which read, 'Make yourselves sheep and the wolves will eat you' as he joined pro-gun protesters in Boulder on Saturday

This man held a sign which read, ‘Make yourselves sheep and the wolves will eat you’ as he joined pro-gun protesters in Boulder on Saturday

Arguments in favour of controlling the sale of assault rifles have gained momentum in recent months.

It was a key demand of the organizers of March For Our Lives, which saw hundreds of thousands of protesters converge on Washington DC and New York last month.

In February, the Florida state senate voted down a ban on assault weapons, although they did agree to raise the legal age for purchasing a firearm to 21.

But a ban was passed on April 4 in the town of Deerfield, Illinois, with supporters saying it was a direct response to the Parkland shooting. 

A man shows off his tattoo of the second amendment to the US constitution at the protest against plans to ban the sale and ownership of assault rifles in Boulder, Colorado

A man shows off his tattoo of the second amendment to the US constitution at the protest against plans to ban the sale and ownership of assault rifles in Boulder, Colorado

A demonstrator at Saturday's pro-gun rally carries a pistol inside a black holster with the Stars and Stripes sticking out of it 

A demonstrator at Saturday’s pro-gun rally carries a pistol inside a black holster with the Stars and Stripes sticking out of it 

A protester carries a rifle and a pistol by his side on a holster reading 'alcohol, tobacco & firearms, should be a convenience store, not a government agency'

A protester carries a rifle and a pistol by his side on a holster reading ‘alcohol, tobacco & firearms, should be a convenience store, not a government agency’

A Humvee painted in the colours of the American flag, an assault rifle, and the words 'In God We Trust' parked at the rally on Saturday 

A Humvee painted in the colours of the American flag, an assault rifle, and the words ‘In God We Trust’ parked at the rally on Saturday 

Mark, a protester who declined to give his last name, holds a copy of the Constitution of the United States of America and the selected writings of the Founding Fathers

Mark, a protester who declined to give his last name, holds a copy of the Constitution of the United States of America and the selected writings of the Founding Fathers



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