Thousands of gun advocates gather for rallies across U.S.January 20, 2013 - 16:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Thousands of gun advocates have gathered at state capitals across the U.S. to protest against stricter limits on firearms, Belfast Telegraph reported. Some demonstrators carried rifles and pistols while others settled for waving handwritten signs or screaming themselves hoarse. The size of crowds at each location varied, from dozens of people in South Dakota to 2,000 in New York. Large crowds also turned out in Connecticut, Tennessee and Texas. Some demonstrators in Phoenix and Salem, Oregon, came with holstered handguns or rifles on their backs. At the Kentucky capitol in Frankfort, there was a special round of applause for "the ladies that are packin'". Activists promoted the Guns Across America rallies primarily through social media. They were being held just after President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping package of gun-control proposals. The crowd swelled to more than 800 amid balmy temperatures on the steps of the pink-hued capitol in Austin, Texas, where speakers took the microphone under a giant Texas flag with "Independent" stamped across it. Home-made placards read "An Armed Society is a Polite Society" and "The Second Amendment Comes from God" - The Second Amendment to the U.S. constitution guarantees the right to bear arms. Rallies at statehouses nationwide were organised by Eric Reed, an airline captain from the Houston area who in November started a group called More Gun Control (equals) More Crime. Its Facebook page has been "liked" by more than 17,000 people. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |