Gun rights activists show up in full force to protest assault weapons ban: 'We aren't criminals

A proposed ban on assault weapons is moving through the Boulder, Colorado, City Council, and gun rights advocates are making sure their opposition is seen and heard, the Daily Camera reported.

Gun rights protesters took to the streets over the weekend, many carrying semiautomatic rifles openly, to let the Boulder City Council know that a ban on their guns would not be accepted without pushback.

What’s the story?

The Boulder City Council passed the first reading of a city ordinance that would prohibit the sale and possession of “assault weapons.”

The Daily Camera reported that the ordinance defines assault weapons as:

• All semiautomatic rifles that have the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and that have any of the following characteristics: a pistol grip or thumbhole stock; a folding or telescoping stock; or any protruding grip or other device to allow the weapon to be stabilized with the non-trigger hand.

• All semiautomatic centerfire pistols that have any of the following characteristics: the capacity to accept a magazine other than in the pistol grip or any device to allow the weapon to be stabilized with the non-trigger hand.

• Any firearm that has been modified to be operable as an assault weapon as defined by the city, plus any part or combination or parts designed to convert a firearm into an assault weapon.

The idea for a ban came after the mass murder left 17 people dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

There were so many protesters outside openly carrying rifles that Boulder police declined to cite violators of city code, instead opting to provide “education” to demonstrators.

Boulder code requires weapons carried outside to be kept in a case that is recognizable as a gun case.

What are they saying?

According to the Daily Camera, protesters had signs including “Gun Free Zones are Sitting Duck Zones” and “My Assault Rifle Self Identifies as a Personal Defense Weapon.”

“We aren’t criminals,” said Brandon, one of the demonstrators. “I don’t think we should be turned into criminals.”

“There ain’t nobody but me who is going to save me except myself,” said Vique DeJuliannie, another protester. “I’m not some right-wing nut job, either.

“I just believe in my right to protect myself with whatever weapon I choose.”