Jan 8, 2019 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – Hundreds of people converged on downtown Pittsburgh Monday – many carrying loaded firearms – to hear a series of speakers who told them their Second Amendment rights were under attack by city officials.

Organizers held the midday rally to oppose legislation that would make semi-automatic rifles and some categories of ammunition and gun accessories illegal inside of city limits, and allow police to confiscate firearms from those deemed an “extreme risk” to themselves or others.

John Hall, 40, of Washington, was standing a few ranks back from the speaker’s lectern with a semi-automatic SAR 3 rifle – similar to an AK-47 – in a parade-style sling over his shoulder. He said he also was carrying two Ruger handguns.

“I don’t have anything to gain by compromising (on gun laws),” Hall said. “You’re only giving up rights. Even if it’s a little bit at a time.”

The legislation was jointly sponsored by Mayor Bill Peduto and seven of the nine members of city council in the wake of the Oct. 27 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

In proposing the measures last month, Peduto said he’s hoping other local governments will adopt similar legislation to drive changes in gun laws and curb gun violence across the country.

If adopted, the measures are likely to draw court challenges from gun owners groups.

Mentions of Peduto’s name drew repeated jeers from the audience, which was big enough to fill the area outside the City-County Building and sidewalk on both sides of Grant Street. Police who were standing near the crowd said they weren’t sure how many people attended, but that authorities had expected about 550.

“Build a bike lane,” at least one attendee kept shouting, sarcastically, at mentions of the mayor.

Other Pennsylvania municipalities – but none from Washington County – have telegraphed plans to float similar measures.

“So far, Duquesne (in Allegheny County) has stated that it intends to, and Philadelphia’s mayor and law department are mulling our legislative package,” said Matt Singer, legislative director for Councilman Corey O’Connor.

Many at the rally said the legislation fit into a larger fight against moves by the government to expand its own power.

Hall acknowledged he and others had been able to assemble without being stopped by the authorities.

Still, he said, “I think a lot of laws already are a violation of (the Second Amendment).”

Overhearing this, Bill Komora, 34, of Pittsburgh chimed in.

“The Constitution said ‘shall not be infringed,'” said Komora, 34. “That means you can’t tell me what magazine size I can have, what caliber I can have, anything. It’s right there. ‘Shall not be infringed.’ Point blank.”