UPDATE: Wisconsin Gun Owners Rally in Madison for 'Gun Appreciation Day'
Hundreds of armed gun owners are expected to show up at the state Capitol as part of nationwide movement to support gun ownership.
Updated at 5:20 p.m. Saturday with crowd estimate
A conservative group is hoping that tens of thousands turn out nationwide to show their support for gun ownership with their pocketbooks and picket signs the day before President Barack Obama is sworn in for a second term.
The group, a coalition brought together for the event, declared Saturday as "Gun Appreciation Day." The hope is Americans nationwide will show their support for gun ownership by turning out en masse at gun stores, ranges and shows from coast to coast.
“The Obama administration has shown that it is more than willing to trample the Constitution to impose its dictates upon the American people,” said Gun Appreciation Day Chairman Larry Ward in a press release.
In Wisconsin, a rally that took place at noon Saturday outside the state Capitol in Madison drew more than 500 people, the Journal Sentinel reported.
The organizers of the Wisconsin rally encouraged gun owners to bring their guns to the rally, but are issued some warnings on the rally's Facebook page.
"Please keep weapons holstered at all times. Do not remove your weapon to show a new friend. Capitol police might mistake this for “brandishing” or another reason for alarm," the page says. Organizers also are reminding participants that guns are prohibited inside the Capitol building.
Capitol police said there were no problems on Saturday, the Journal Sentinel said.
The day comes as the gun control debate becomes more divisive. On Wednesday, Obama signed 23 executive actions aimed at curtailing gun violence and called on Congress to make tougher punishments for gun trafficking and place limits on magazine sizes.
The issues is back on the front burner after several recent high-profile mass shootings, including ones at an elementary school in Newtown, CT, at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek and a spa in Brookfield.
"Gun Appreciation Day" is modeled after this past summer's "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day," the answer to a boycott of the fast food chain after CEO Dan Cathy declared his support of what he termed "traditional marriage." According to ABC News, Chick-Fil-A posted record-setting sales during the "Appreciation Day."
A counter event has also been formed by a group called Parents Against Gun Violence (PAGV), which has declared January 19 as Child Appreciation Day.
"Organizing a 'gun appreciation day' so soon after the Newtown Massacre is in poor taste. In response we have decided to promote a 'Child Appreciation Day' to honor our children and the victims of Newtown," said Jennifer Caldera, a member of the PAGV Steering Committee, in a statement to the press.
Gun Appreciation Day is scheduled the day before Obama's second inauguration, and two days before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which honors the civil rights leader who was slain in 1968.
Were you at the Madison rally? Add your photos to this article.
Arcturus D.
10:06 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
What, all the hippies and union thugs are going to go mess up the Capitol again?
Bob McBride
10:31 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
A counter event has also been formed by a group called Parents Against Gun Violence (PAGV), which has declared January 19 Child Appreciation Day.
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Fabulous. Are they going to rally at the Capitol as well? You know, Baraboo is only about 40 miles north of Madison. As the home of the Circus World Museum, I think it would be a more appropriate rallying point for both of these "appreciation" events. That way people who wish to go about their business in Madison only have to dodge Segway Boy and the Solidarity Singers and such. I'm sure regulars such as those pretty much blend into the scenery by now.
Let's give the Capitol a break. It's old and it's really been taking a beating over the past few years. Take the circus acts to a venue that would probably welcome them with open arms this time of year.
Matt
4:53 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Sorry to deflate your expectations, Bob, but if you visit the PAGV website it explains that "Child Appreciation Day" is intended as a time for people to participate in a volunteer project with their children, or teach their children a new skill, or just spend time with their children. PAGV further suggests that if you own a gun, this would be a good day to check to make sure it's stored safely. That's all. There's no "Child Appreciation Day" rally, nor march, nor protest.
Bob McBride
6:24 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Thanks. I wasn't planning on going to their website. You're not deflating my expectations. They honestly weren't very high for either "Gun Appreciation Day" or "Child Appreciation Day". CAD (put me down as the first to use that acronym) get's extra no-great-expectation bonus points for not showing up at the Capitol.
Nuitari
10:45 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I'd just like to thank liberals for their fear and propaganda for driving up my gun stock prices.
dsaff
4:40 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
NUITJOB, BLOB & ARCTURUS DR - You are pomp ass Asses.
Nuitari
4:45 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I'm sorry Scott, didn't quite get that diarrhea coming from you.
dsaff
4:48 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Hey Nuitjob, Heres your Super Heros. http://www2.fiskars.com/var/fiskars_amer/storage/images/frontpage2/crafting/projects/entertaining-parties/themes-party-ideas/little-girls-tea-party/542815-1-eng-US/Little-Girls-Tea-Party.jpg
dsaff
7:06 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Hey Neutered Boy, You getting close to the diarrhea now. Just a little lower and you`ll be at the Nutsack.
Steve ®
9:47 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Why are these far left personal attacks allowed here on patch?
Craig
11:08 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I wonder how many Libby's will go to counter protest?
They should stop at Target first and buy A store brand T shirt.
Nuitari
12:36 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Craig, I like this one better
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&sa=N&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1920&bih=926&tbm=isch&tbnid=xzg014NK_TSMkM:&imgrefurl=http://www.superherostuff.com/barrack-obama/t-shirts/barack-obama-t-shirt.html%3Fitemcd%3Dtsobamahero&docid=Fgd95gs1Rq0neM&imgurl=http://images.superherostuff.com/image-tsobamahero-primary-watermark.jpg&w=550&h=580&ei=h-f6UKKIE-jD0AGR_4HIAw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=350&sig=109451943608046964635&page=1&tbnh=141&tbnw=127&start=0&ndsp=65&ved=1t:429,r:46,s:0,i:294&tx=72&ty=81
Fred van der Wal
11:17 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
It's the same old thing, all about politics.
Mark Maley
11:30 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
We're hearing that as of 11:30 a.m., only a couple of dozen people are on hand...
Bob McBride
11:35 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Which group?
Nuitari
12:34 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Well that matches the count for Walker's state of the state speech.
Captain Midnight
4:27 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Perhaps the "gun appreciators" participated in a live demonstration of circular firing squad?
Brian Dey
10:13 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Mark Maley- There are many pictures on the web that prove it was far more than a couple of dozen. Pictures on facebook by the people that hosted the event looks to be more than 3,000 which is the estimate by the Capitol Police.
Ed Willing
11:21 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Mark, I was there at 11:45. That person was flat out LYING to you.
I sent you a personal email, and gave you pictures taken at 12:15. Funny how a couple dozen grew to 700+ by then, and over 1,000 by 1pm.
Your source is a liar. Sorry.
Greg
12:25 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Are they serving chicken?
Aaron Perry
12:25 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
If either group put forth this kind of effort to promote great parenting and raising children right, one must wonder if we'd have the violence we have.
dsaff
4:37 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I Applaud you!
Matt
4:56 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Aaron, "Child Appreciation Day" is exactly that--an effort to promote good parenting. There's no rally, march or protest for Child Appreciation Day. If you visit the Parents Against Gun Violence website, it says that the point of Child Appreciation Day is to spend time with your children, either volunteering (since today is a national day of service), or teaching them a new skill, or just being together as a family. Parents Against Gun Violence also recommends that today would be a good day to make sure that any guns at home are stored safely, where they can't be accessed by young children. So... what was that you were saying?
Aaron Perry
8:28 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
@Matt I understand that's what it is. What is disappointing is to see the passion and time taken away from things like that to either fight against or support the 2nd Amendment rights. Yes of course everyone has the right to attend a rally but shouldn't our kids be our priority every day? Or why is there not a rally for Child Appreciation Day as well? Just seems efforts to make change for good are displaced in fighting or promoting guns. What does that teach our children?
Bren
12:39 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
It's not being livestreamed/ustreamed as far as I could tell.
michelle
1:09 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I agree with you Aaron
Matt
4:45 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Sorry to disappoint those of you who imagine "Child Appreciation Day" as some sort of hippy drum circle, but that's not at all what is described on the Parents Against Gun Violence website. There's no march, no rally, no protest. Parents Against Gun Violence suggests that people take this national day of service to participate in a volunteer project with your children, or teach your children a new skill, or just spend time with your children. And if you own a gun, Parents Against Gun Violence suggests that today would be a good day to double check to make sure it is stored safely, where it can't accidentally be accessed by young children. That's all. Outrageous liberal insanity, right?
Greg
7:15 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Right!
SAVAIL
8:29 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Mock if you must, but there was a good amount of people at the rally today. If the government is allowed to change the second amendment, a right given to each American citizen at birth, then what is stopping them from changing others?
Keith Schmitz
9:49 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Right. And the first amendment is a right given to each American to produce snuff films.
Brian Dey
10:14 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Keith- Time to sleep off your stuper.
$$andSense
3:27 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Brian Dey
What exactly is the dirt you and others have on Keith Schmitz about his alcohol consumption? This comes up all the time from you and others. He comes across as a coherent individual with a lot of good points, though which some of us do not always agree with. Please, be the squad point man and tell all the rest of us what the issue is or is it just pure speculation? If speculation, then that is called slander or worse libel.
Bucky
9:04 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
$$andSense ... Brian Dey is a very hatefull person just read all his spew.
Brian Dey
9:15 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Not really Bucky. I just hate freeloaders, whiners and people messing wih my rights. Might I add, a right provided in the U.S. and Wisconsin Constitutions. I seem to remember you spewing some pretty hateful dialogue in these blogs about you wanting to protect a right that is in neither the U.S. or Wisconsin Constitution. Funny how its okay when you lefties try to stand what you believe in, but if you are to te right of the aisle, its a different story. Difference is, what I am fighting for is an actual right.
michelle
9:24 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I'm not happy about this whole gun issue. But it sounds to me like it's getting out of control.
Ed Willing
11:20 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Michelle, what exactly is getting out of control? The "control," or the peaceful exercise of supporting rights?
Ed Willing
10:28 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
The Journal Sentinel is full of crap. This event was at least double the number they reported. Unless, they showed up at 2:15pm as everyone was leaving....
Lyle Ruble
6:53 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
@Edward Willing...Who cares and what difference does it make if it were 10 or 10,000; it's all theater anyway.
Bottom Line
8:39 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Another peaceful rally by citizens showing support for government restraint regarding personal rights. The attendance issue is pertinent, it shows that many citizens are so interested that they forfeit their free time to attend the rally. The media has consistently under reported attendance for these peaceful demonstrations, attempting to diminish the issue.
Conversely ... speaking of theater ... they over report attendance at the less than peaceful rallies by bully blue fist ranters. Why do you suspect they position articles this way?
John Taxthepoor
11:32 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
But if demoncrats were protesting lets say UNION non constitutional rights, it would be a human and righteously legitmate protest, not theactrics
Keith Best
1:23 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
I considered attending this rally in Madison, but then an offer came along to go target shooting at an outdoor range for rifles that I had never been at before. I had a fun time as it was in a heated trailer with 50 yard and 100 yard targets. I confirmed that the iron sights on my semi-automatic rifle were sufficient instead of investing in optics. Oh yeah, I am a proud responsible member of the NRA. I do NOT support a ban on mis-named "assault weapons" as they are already illegal. I do NOT support a ban on 30- round magazines as I just don't like to reload that much. That's my choice and my FREEDOM.
morninmist
11:11 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
Yes, we must act to cut down on gun violence.
Obama Inauguration @obamainaugural 30s
“We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect.”
Greg
12:36 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Action without thought is disaster.