by: Hazelmarie Anderson, WFXRtv.com Digital Desk

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) New gun laws took effect in the Commonwealth at the beginning of July, but some people in the Lynchburg area say they are not too happy about it.

A group of people gathered in downtown Lynchburg at Riverfront Park on Saturday, July 18, for one cause.

President of Right to Bear Arms Virginia, Brandon Howard, said, We educate and we advocate for the individual persons and citizens protection under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; Article One, Section 13 under the Virginia Constitution; as well as the laws of the Commonwealth.

With long guns in hand and others strapped to their waist, the group took a two-mile freedom walk around downtown Lynchburg as part of the demonstration.

Its important to show the public that were not scary, black-rifle people, said John Hinkle, one of the gun owners in attendance. We come from all areas of civilian life, and were not out to harm anybody and were not here to aggravate anybody and were not aggressive. We are peaceful citizens.

The group wants to educate the public and let them know there are safe ways to carry firearms and exercise their rights.

We show them law abiding citizens can safely and legally carry a fire arm in public responsibly, said Howard.

Attorney Chuck Smith said, We are here to tell them to know youre not gonna touch our Second Amendment right, not now, not tomorrow, not ever.

Gun supporters at the rally Saturday afternoon took a stance with regard to the new gun control laws in the Commonwealth.

As Appomattox County Supervisor, I am introducing a resolution at Monday nights board meeting to propose no new gun laws in Appomattox County, said Hinkle.

I think whether you are a gun lover or whether youre just a regular citizen, you ought to have a stake in whether Constitutional rights can be divvied up by Governor Northam, said Smith, whether those can be passed to individual cities and counties.

Through a peaceful rally and freedom walk, the groups message about those controversial laws came across clearly.

Were not just here trying to protect just the Second Amendment, said Smith. Our challenge is against a government that believes they can change anything of the United States Constitution at their whim.

Back in January, the Lynchburg City Council voted 5-2 against allowing the city to join a growing list of Second Amendment sanctuaries across the Commonwealth.

The Right to Bear Arms Virginia is currently working to host another event in the near future, with the goal of educating the public about owning firearms while also breaking the stigma surrounding guns by carrying them responsibly in public. .

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