Hartford — They sported shirts and signs with messages like, "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns," "I am not a criminal" and "You are not for women's rights when you want to strip them of their right to self-defense."
They waved American flags and yellow Gadsden flags with the rattlesnake and words "Don't tread on me." They booed at most mentions of the names Murphy, Blumenthal and Malloy. They chanted "Vote them out" and "We're not the problem."
According to Connecticut State Capitol Police, about 1,500 people gathered on the north side of the State Capitol on Saturday for Rally for Our Rights, held by the Connecticut Citizens Defense League[1], a pro-Second Amendment grass-roots organization.
"That gun in my hand empowers me with the ability to say no: No you can't come into my home, no you can't hurt me, no you can't hurt my family," said gun rights activist Dom Basile. "That's pretty much it. Whether I choose to exercise that right is my prerogative."
Basile was among 13 speakers, a lineup that included CCDL leaders, state legislators and high school students.
CCDL President Scott Wilson told The Day the rally was planned in part because there were a lot of requests to respond to what happened last month, between the National School Walkout[2] on March 14 and March for Our Lives[3] on March 24.
"I've talked to some people who have gone to the event, and for the most part, we like them," said Wilson, a New London resident. "We all want our children protected and safe."
But he said that "mixed in with the everyday people" were "hardcore individuals" with signs stating messages like, "Repeal the Second Amendment," "Kill the NRA" and "Gun-owners love
