Second Amendment rights rally draws criticism

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - With the White House pushing tighter laws on guns and ammunition, dozens gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza on Saturday to have their voices heard on the issue.

Stephanie Schwartz organized the gun rally, lining up some high-profile speakers including Florida Representative Clay Ingram and Escambia County Commissioner Wilson Robertson.

“The rally is about defending the constitution and doing what we need to do to make sure no one infringes on it,” said Schwartz.

Emotions ran high at from the crowd and speakers, who voiced their support for an unhindered right to bear arms.

Mike Bates is a local radio talk show host who spoke at the assembly.

“We believe in freedom and the Second Amendment. It is a critical amendment. It’s a God-given right and we won’t tolerate the government infringing upon that,” Bates said.

But not everyone who turned out felt the location for such a rally was appropriate.

The site of the rally has drawn some criticism from the NAACP , who said it is disrespectful to MLK and what he stood for.

“This is the issue of a man who tried to teach this country about peace. He walked every day for peace. We’re having a rally about guns here at his place, that’s disrespectful,” said Quincy Hull.

Eric Hansen, who attended the rally, disagrees.

"Martin Luther King, Jr. is a man that fought for rights. The fact that we’re having a rally here to defend our rights at a place in his name is fitting,” Hansen said.

Marshall Brinson said he's thrilled they held the rally.

“The only thing a gun ban will do is affect the legal, law-abiding citizen. We have to find a way to stop the criminals from getting guns, not the law-abiding citizen," said Brinson, "The Second Amendment is what protects the rest of the amendments from a tyrannical government. Ours isn't one yet, but it has happened."