Veteran Mark Sahady of Boston speaks while counter-protesters (reflected in his glasses) try to drown him out at a free speech rally in support of 2nd amendment rights at the State House on Saturday, June 2, 2018.
Miguel Gomez of Westfield, with wife Audrey Harrison, left, waves a flag at a free speech rally in support of 2nd amendment rights at the State House on Saturday, June 2, 2018.
It was a showdown at high noon outside the State House yesterday as gun rights advocates faced off with counterprotesters.
Army combat veteran Mark Sahady, 42, of Boston said he and other members of the Resist Marxism group want to make sure gun control bills before the Legislature are not arbitrary.
“We know that there was March for Our Lives, so we just want to show that there’s people in Massachusetts that are interested in defending the Second Amendment and we want people to know that we’re here,” Sahady said.
Resist Marxism member Michael Moura, 24, of Stoughton said there should be no restrictions to the right to carry a gun and was critical of the “red flag” bill, which would allow people to petition the court to bar someone from owning a gun if deemed extremely dangerous. A version of that bill is now headed to the Senate after being approved in the House.
“We think that it’s critical that we have to defend the Second Amendment, especially after what just happened in the House of Representatives,” Moura said.
“They are trying to bring in people who are not as hard-line as they are and build a movement, so every time they show up it is our duty to show up against white supremacy and tell them to get out of our city,” Rucker said.
State troopers and Boston police stood between both groups during the rally and protest. Boston police spokesman James Kenneally said there were three arrests for disorderly conduct.