Pro-Second Amendment rally Saturday to close Court Street NE between 12th and Winter

Second Amendment supporters are expected to gather for a pro-gun rally Saturday outside the Capitol, following the introduction of multiple firearm-related House and Senate bills. 

The Defend the Second Rally, organized by Oregon-based weapons manufacturers Radian Weapons and Noveske Rifleworks, invites supporters of the Second Amendment to raise awareness and speak out against the proposed bills. 

More than 2,000 people are expected to attend the rally, according to the event page on Facebook.

The bills introduced during 2019 legislative session aim to instill regulations such as mandatory gun locks, defining assault rifles and limiting ammunition purchases.

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SB 501, for example, would require residents to acquire a permit before buying a gun, limit the amount of ammunition a person could buy, outlaw magazines with a capacity of more than five rounds and create gun locking and storage requirements. 

"The only purpose of this event is to remind our legislators that they work for us, and any continued assault on our 2nd Amendment rights will not stand," organizers said in the Facebook event page. 

Peaceful protest requested

Officers from Oregon State Police and the Salem Police Department will be present at the event in anticipation of large crowds. 

Organizers have requested a peaceful protest. "Hatred of any kind, violence, or destruction of public or private property is forbidden," they wrote.

During last year's legislative session, about 300 Second Amendment supporters gathered in mid-April at the Oregon World War II Memorial for a rally organized by the National Constitutional Coalition of Patriotic Americans.

The event came just weeks after 3,000 people gathered in Salem for the March for Our Lives protest, demanding stricter gun laws to combat gun violence. 

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Event details

The event will take place on state property, primarily the Capitol and the Capitol Mall.  Court Street NE will be closed between 12th and Winter streets from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., according to Lt. Michael Bennett with the Salem Police Department. 

"We will have officers on hand to ensure the people’s right to peaceably assemble and freedom of speech is safeguarded," Bennett said. 

Radian Weapons has raised more than $14,500 of their $150,000 goal via GoFundMe.

The company said all funds will be used to pay for buses to transport attendees, music, entertainment, licensing fees, advertisements, travel for speakers and food and drink.

Organizers asked supporters to bring signs in support of the Second Amendment and are asking for donors to contribute money. 

The rally will take place between noon and 3 p.m. March 23 on the Salem Capitol grounds. 

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Virginia Barreda is the Breaking News Reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.