Gun-rights fight almost costs town its 4th of July parade

How far will the gun grabbers take things?

A skirmish over the Second Amendment nearly cost one small town its Independence Day parade.

A tea party group called the Southern Colorado Patriots Club asked its members and supporters to show up for the Fourth of July parade in tiny Westcliffe, Col., (pop. 568, according to townofwestcliffe.com) carrying unloaded rifles to “make a statement that we still believe in our Constitution,” according to a Denver Post article.

westcliffe2The group also wanted to show it believes in the state’s sheriffs, who have filed a federal lawsuit against two gun-control bills passed this year by the Democratic legislature and signed by a Democratic governor. One limits gun magazines to 15 rounds; the other requires background checks for all gun sales and transfers, according to the Post.

The current controversy has upset tradition.

The parade has long been paid for by the Custer County Chamber of Commerce, according to the Post, and the Patriots’ Club members have often marched in it armed, the Post article said.

But the chamber declined to sponsor the event this year when word of the Patriots’ protest spread, and the anti-gun crowd kicked into action with a petition drive.

“It has polarized this community in a week,” chamber president Donna Hood told the Post. “I’m sure safety was an interest with everybody, but I don’t really believe that the Tea Partiers were gonna draw attention to themselves by shooting people going down our small town road.”

Seems like a safe bet, but a local Democratic official (surprise) isn’t so sure it’s all safe.

“I support the Second Amendment … because that’s the law of the land,” Custer County Democratic Central Committee chairman Roland Williams told the Post. “The issue is, does it make common sense and is it worth putting your community at a potential risk?”

Fortunately for the Fourth, the town of Westcliffe itself is stepping up to sponsor the parade – one of the busiest business days of the year – so the show will go on.

And one of its leaders will be Custer County Sheriff Fred Jobe, who is among the sheriff’s suing the state for trying to stamp out the Second Amendment.

“No matter what your opinions are, it’s my job to make everybody feel safe,” Jobe said.

Sheriff Jobe sounds like a good man to have around.

H/T: The Daily Caller

 

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