Big crowd expected at 2nd Amendment Rally
February 6, 2013
Organizers have no idea how many people to expect, but response has been so overwhelming they've changed the venue of the Second Amendment Rally this Saturday from the parking lot at Far North Outfitters to the much more spacious green at the Boundary County Fairgrounds.

The event, which begins at 2 p.m., will feature guest speakers former Bonner County Commissioner Cornel Rasor and Stewart Rhodes, founder of Oath Keepers, "a non-partisan association of current and formerly serving military, reserves, National Guard, veterans, Peace Officers, and Fire Fighters who will fulfill the Oath we swore, with the support of like minded citizens who take an Oath to stand with us, to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so help us God."

Citizens are encouraged to open carry their firearms, both rifles and pistols, but to keep their arms unloaded, holstered or slung for everyone's safety.

"We'd hate to see anyone get hurt," said one of the event organizers. "Most gun owners are very safety conscious, respect firearms and know how to handle them safely and appropriately, and we don't need an incident at the rally to get in the way of the cause."

"The reason for organizing this is to help create more understanding about the history and importance of the Second Amendment," said Tia Avery, Moyie Springs, who is helping coordinate the event and spread the word. "So many events in national politics seem be intent on marginalizing and altering the meaning of the Second that we thought its time to start pushing back a bit through education."

Few issues, she said, get people as concerned as infringement of the right to keep and bear arms, she said, as all the other rights we hold dear hinge on our ability to defend them from any threat, be it a mugger, a foreign invader or the tyranny of our own government.

"Private ownership of weapons is insurance much like owning a fire extinguisher or wearing your seat belt," she said. "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. As for a message of the rally, I would say its this: We do value all of our rights and we need to remind our elected officials, local and national, of this from time to time. The vast majority of gun control suggested so far has dubious value at best in solving the violent crime problem in this country. What it does all to often, however, is infringe on the right of honest citizens to keep and bear arms or defend themselves in a lawful manner."

Another point of interest not many people know about, she said, is a recent Supreme Court ruling that police are not under obligation to respond to calls of distress.

"Ultimately, the responsibility for our safety rests on our own shoulders," she said. "Shoot me an email if I can answer any other questions ... pun definitely intended."

She's also like to extend thanks to the folks at Far North Outfitters for the offer of their parking lot as the original rally location.