Only Two Open-Carry Advocates Show Up for July 4 Demonstration — But Anti-Gun Protestors Don’t Show Up At All

Despite Facebook threats against them, open-carry advocates who took to the streets of Richmond Friday encountered little opposition as they toted their long guns.

Image source: screengrab via WTVR-TV

Scott Royle and Jason Spitzer were the only two open-carry advocates who marched on the Fourth of July in Richmond, Virginia, WTVR-TV reported, though a few more had been expected to show up.

The men handed out literature on the Second Amendment to passers-by, most of whom seemed to respond politely — unlike the reception the men had gotten on social media.

WTVR-TV had posted a photo of the two, along with another man, holding guns outside ahead of the planned Fourth of July march, sparking a negative backlash.

“I will presume you are a terrorist threat and call 911 immediately,” one person wrote on WTVR-TV's Facebook page. “I encourage everyone else to do the same.”

Others had similar harsh messages.

“Why is it we get threatened like that, where we’re just exercising our rights like everyone else?” Spitzer asked.

But no anti-gun protestors were to be seen on Friday, and the men said they had only two minor interactions with police over the course of the day.

With an American flag billowing behind them, the pair marched unmolested until they retired at 4 p.m. local time, WTVR-TV reported.

Image source: screengrab via WTVR-TV

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