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Dead Constitution See other Dead Constitution Articles Title: Gun rights groups to demonstrate at Alamo Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a gun-toting Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, will headline a gun-rights rally Saturday on the state-owned Alamo grounds, where demonstrations have been historically banned - until Patterson's office took over the shrine. Saturday's rally, billed as "Come and Take It San Antonio!" will be on the state's 4.2-acre Alamo complex, which has been under the custodianship the Texas General Land Office since 2011. The phrase comes from a flag waved by colonists at Gonzales who refused to surrender a cannon to Mexican forces at the start of the Texas Revolution in 1835. "This is our line in the sand!" declares an event flier, circulated on the Internet, that accuses Police Chief William McManus and the San Antonio Police Department of "harassing" gun owners after three men with guns at a local Starbucks were charged on Aug. 24 with disorderly conduct. McManus denies the harassment claims, saying his officers acted within the law when they cited the men at the coffee shop. Texas law limits carrying of concealed handguns to licensed owners, but allows open carrying of rifles, when not done in a threatening manner. Local laws restrict carrying rifles and shotguns in city parks and other places. McManus said he plans to have a strong security presence at the rally, but doesn't want emotions flaring at the state shrine. "We'll have plenty of police officers visible out there in hopes that will ease anyone that was fearful of people toting around weapons," he said. "This isn't an us-versus-them." Michelle Green, a member of Mothers Demand Action of Gun Sense in America, said her group will have an alternative event for families Saturday. A flier for that gathering, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alamo Street Eat Bar, touts, "SA Moms are drawing a line in the sandbox." Green said her group, which has "tons of gun owners," believes the demonstrators are part of a "fringe" element whose actions dilute arguments for responsible gun handling and ownership. Those opposed to staging the event at the state-owned Alamo, held sacred by most Texans, call it a contrived protest that doesn't really promote basic freedoms. In the past, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Alamo's former custodians who now run the shrine's daily operations under a state contract, have not allowed demonstrations on the grounds. Protests and political rallies have traditionally been held in the city-owned Alamo Plaza, where part of the Alamo mission and 1836 battle compound stood. Jim Suydam, press secretary with the Land Office, said the state agency approved the rally on the grounds at the request of gun-rights groups. "The individuals are responsible for their own actions. However, Commissioner Patterson has strongly supported the organizers' safety measures, including the use of carry straps and chamber checks," which prevent an accidental discharge, Suydam said in an email. According to police reports, three men cited at the Starbucks wore camouflage and had semi- automatic rifles. The manager and people leaving the store "expressed concern" as the men had the rifles "on their laps and in hand." The rifles had rounds in the magazine, "and had open slides that just needed to be closed to make each weapon ready to fire," the reports said. The Texas Penal Code makes it illegal to display "a firearm or other deadly weapon in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm." C.J. Grisham, an Open Carry Texas member, believes the rally will help "minimize negative encounters" with police. The group has held similar events, including one in Temple in June that drew 400 people, but has focused on San Antonio after the Starbucks incident. "This is a way to force SAPD to respect our rights. You can gang up on three of us, but come and arrest 1,000 of us if you really think you're right," Grisham said. Poster Comment: Some friends of mine will be attending. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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