News Journal – by Angela WardCarrying rifles and shotguns, proponents of open carry laws marched through downtown Longview on Saturday morning.
About 130 people participated in the march, which ended on the Gregg County Courthouse lawn.
“Our rights have been respected, and we’re going to exercise them as free men,” said organizer Stephen Lee.
While middle-aged men made up the bulk of the group, there also were young families with small children, as well as women and elderly residents.
Before the march began, Lee gave a brief safety talk and encouraged the participants to be polite if they encountered opposition.
“Our best chance of changing minds is acting like gentlemen and ladies and, above all, responsible gun owners,” he said.
There was no noticeable opposition to the march, and Longview police officers on the scene said the event went smoothly. Other than the marchers, there were few people on the streets of downtown Saturday morning.
The march was organized by Open Carry Tyler and designed to promote all gun rights. The group also proposes legalizing the open carry of handguns.
Openly carrying rifles and shotguns, known as long guns, is legal as long as they are not loaded, according to Texas state law.
Matt and Amanda Sims were at the walk with their 22-month-old daughter, Rileigh. The couple hunts and target shoots.
“We’re here because we’re aware of our rights and want to make sure government officials are, too,” Matt Sims said.
Dewayne Druschke, who said he was an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, wanted to be part of the walk to encourage respect for the Second Amendment.
“A lot of people don’t realize that the Second Amendment is there to protect the first one,” he said.
Two people who attended the rally but didn’t carry guns were Brother Lawrence Horne, pastor of Believers of the Truth, and state Rep. David Simpson.
“I support what they’re doing, but this is my weapon of choice,” Horne said, indicating the Bible he was carrying. “They have as much right to own and carry guns as I do to preach.”
Simpson said he did not carry a gun to the rally because he believes that, as an elected official, he is one of the few people not included in what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they wrote of a well regulated militia.
“What has made our nation and state strong is the responsible use of freedom and strength,” the Longview Republican said.
Lauren Wright, 11, was at the march with her father, Rudy Wright. As an adolescent girl, she understands she doesn’t fit the stereotype of a gun rights advocate.
“I’ve been target shooting about two years,” Lauren said. “I just like it.”
Rudy Wright said he’s taught all three of his daughters to shoot, so they will be capable of defending themselves and aware of gun safety rules.
The Tyler group conducted an open carry march in July in that city. Similar demonstrations have been staged elsewhere across Texas in recent months.