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Hundreds of pro-gun activists have demonstrated at the Michigan State Capitol in support of the right to carry firearms inside the government building.
Heavily armed protesters, some carrying Confederate flags and Trump campaign banners, stood on the lawn in front of the capitol building in Lansing brandishing AR-15 firearms and wearing bulletproof vests.
Attendees included members of the Proud Boys, a far-right organization made up exclusively of men with a history of violence against political opponents, and the Michigan Liberty Militia, a paramilitary group.
After two hours of speeches, a group gathered on the steps of the Hall of Justice chanting “USA.” and “four more years” by Donald Trump.
Estimates put the number of attendees at the “Second Amendment March,” which caused the cancellation of the legislative session, between 200 and 1,000.
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Tom Lambert, former president of the Michigan Open Carry, addressed the crowd. “Whether you decide to open or concealed, that’s your choice. It’s not my job to make that decision for you,” M Live quoted him as saying. “It’s not your job to make that decision for you either.”
Commenting on the protests, Democratic Sen. Dayna Polehanki, who represents Michigan’s seventh district, said: “While I did not like the idea of facing more gunmen in the Senate gallery on Thursday, we cannot continue to cancel the session. before these armed events.
“We were elected to work for our constituents, and this prevents us from doing that. Banning weapons from the Capitol now.”
Similar protests took place earlier in the year when protesters opposed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus shutdown stormed the building and demanded that the stay-at-home mandate be lifted so businesses could reopen.
Some armed protesters from the April “American Patriot Rally” reportedly tried to storm the chamber, but were blocked by the police.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Michigan Senate Democrats tweeted earlier this week that “legislators, staff, children and teachers should not have to fear guns on Capitol Hill.”
It came about when a six-person panel rejected a motion to ban guns on the Michigan Capitol and split evenly on a bill to ban the carrying of firearms inside the building.
Commissioners said they first wanted to discuss funding to enforce any new laws before voting on it.
“I know that one of the criticisms this commission has received is that there seems to be an appearance that we are only trying to stop or delay this issue. I can assure you that this is not the case,” said Commissioner William Kandler. .
