As dozens of Second Amendment advocates gathered on the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, the air was filled with fervent voices championing gun rights and challenging recent legislative moves. The rally, featuring speakers from Gun Owners of America, emphasized the diversity of gun owners, highlighting that 48% of new gun owners are women. Antonia Okafor-Coover, director of women’s outreach for the group, stressed the empowerment angle of gun ownership, stating, “If you truly were pro women and being for women empowerment then you would be on the side of the second amendment.”
While the crowd was reportedly smaller than in previous years, with around 150 people, its energy was undeniable. Groups like That Gun Talk, founded in the Philadelphia area by Karise Allen-Crew and her husband, were present to advocate for responsible gun ownership. The group’s vice president, Naki Edward, shared their focus on education, saying, “We’re giving out gun locks, we’re giving out pamphlets about proper education for storage, safety, how to shoot your firearm, where to store it and all those things.”
Behind the scenes, however, Pennsylvania is grappling with contentious debates over gun control, particularly concerning “ghost guns”—firearms made from kits with mostly unserialized parts. Campaign manager for Ceasefire PA, Josh Fleitman, expressed concern over the dramatic increase in ghost guns recovered in Philadelphia and the difficulty law enforcement faces in tracking these weapons.
The Pennsylvania House did pass legislation requiring serialization of ghost gun kits, but the Republican-controlled Senate is unlikely to take action this session. The city of Philadelphia reached a settlement recently with major ghost gun suppliers, barring them from selling in the city. Despite this, advocates like Allen-Crew and Edward argue that restricting access to guns for law-abiding citizens isn’t the solution. Allen-Crew remarked, “I feel like education is the key. I don’t feel like people would be against our two-way rights if they were educated and trained properly.”
Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler, who promised to defend the right to bear arms and criticized recent legislation concerning unserialized guns.
Relevant articles:
– 2nd Amendment Rights Rally in Harrisburg , erienewsnow.com, 05/01/2024
– Gun rights advocates meet on Pa. Capitol steps for lawmakers’ annual Second Amendment rally, LNP | LancasterOnline, 04/30/2024
– Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s gun giveaway features prominently in Second Amendment rally, AOL, 04/30/2024