Gun advocates plan open carry demonstration during Obama's SXSW visit

Gun rally participants walk down Congress Avenue through downtown to celebrate their right to open carry a handgun on Jan. 1.

Credit: Ralph Barrera

Credit: Ralph Barrera

Gun rally participants walk down Congress Avenue through downtown to celebrate their right to open carry a handgun on Jan. 1.


A gun rights group is organizing an open carry demonstration in Austin on Friday.

The demonstration, scheduled to begin at the south entrance to the Capitol at noon, coincides with President Barack Obama's visit to Austin on Friday.

"We will be handing out educational literature and constitutions, talking about the new law, and basically showing attendees that gun owners are no different than anyone else," the group, Open Carry Texas, wrote on Facebook. "We simply refuse to be victims."

“I just found out Obama is going to SXSW Friday. This may get interesting,” C.J. Grisham, the group’s founder, wrote on Facebook.

One commenter on the post, Kriss Elliott, wrote: “If you get a clear shot, please fire for effect!”

Another person, identified as Mark Lockhart, posted on a page for the event: “I will be sure to carry a high powered sniper rifle at the next Republican presidential rally to remind them who they better support, or else. Yee Haw.”

SXSW has a weapons-free policy: "Participants are prohibited from carrying weapons of any kind, including concealed or displayed firearms. Participants are not permitted to bring weapons onto the premises of any official SXSW event."

Last year gun rights groups won national attention for staging a mass mock shooting near the University of Texas campus.

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