NEWTOWN, CT (WFSB) -
Gun control advocates and members of the National Shooting Sports Foundation attended a rally in Newtown on the same day the warrants were unsealed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
The Newtown Action Alliance protested the National Sports Shooting Foundation, which is the second largest gun lobby in the United States, at its headquarters Thursday afternoon.
"Come and demand that our lawmakers listen to their constituents, and not the special interests like the NRA (National Rifle Association) and the NSSF," read the statement from the Newtown Action Alliance.
Members of the Newtown Action Alliance were joined by members of the National Rifle Association.
"We respect the rights of all citizens under our First Amendment to express their opinions in public. We all share the goal of wanting to help make Connecticut safer for our children and all our citizens," said the Sports Shooting Foundation in a statement Thursday. "That is why we have been speaking with legislators to promote practical measures that will effectively address the central issue of keeping firearms out of the hands of those who should not have access to them."
Witnesses at the rally said there was an even number of Newtown Action Alliance and NRA members.
"The state of gun legislation in America is atrocious and it's allowed this to happen," said Miranda Pacchiana of the Newtown Action Alliance.
On Dec. 14, Adam Lanza, 20, shot and killed his mother while she slept in her bed before going to Sandy Hook Elementary School, where he killed 20 children and six adults. He then killed himself as police entered the school.
After reading through the warrants that were unsealed Thursday that revealed in detail the cache of weapons Lanza had access to, Pacchiana said she was compelled to come.
"The amount of weaponry that was in that house, and you know all of that was legal, that tells you a lot about our gun culture," Pacchiana said.
Local members of the NRA were standing shoulder to shoulder with Newtown residents as they make their stance on any potential legislation clear.
"We have the right to bear arms, which includes the weapon, the magazine for that particular weapon and the ammo," said John Lubinski, who is a member of the NRA. "There should be no restrictions on ammo."
The Newtown Action Alliance said in the last few weeks people have been protesting outside the National Sports Shooting Foundation headquarters.
"Everyone was affected by this and for them to come into town to stand against legislation that doesn't affect them, I'm offended by that," Pacchiana said.
On Thursday, The National Day to Demand Action was organized by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition.
The group supports what they call "commonsense" gun laws, including comprehensive and enforceable background checks.
Gov. Dannel Malloy, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra participated in an National Day to Demand Action event Hartford.
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? Members of the NRA and NSSF are on the left of the photo, while members of Newtown Alliance on the right. It appears to be a pretty even turnout on both sides.
