Virginia Gun Activists Hold Open Carry March And Literally No One Shows Up

More than 300 people were invited on Facebook to march on the Fourth of July with their handguns, rifles and  long guns proudly displayed while walking down the streets of Carytown, Virginia. We presented pictures of those who were to attend the event.  The only problem with their plan was that no one showed up, with the exception of the two organizers of the event.

The organizers of the midday event planned to march in the family-oriented Carytown shopping district, and they did – but only two marched.

“I don’t know why,” 29-year-old organizer Jason Spitzer said when asked to explain the low turnout for what he described as an Independence Day demonstration to “spread Constitutional awareness” of Americans’ Second Amendment right to bear arms, according to The Roanoke Times.

“But even if nobody came I’d still walk,”Spitzer said, while holding a large American flag in his hands, with a rifle slung over his shoulder and a holstered handgun on his hip. “It’s the Fourth of July and I love my country.”

Shoppers and diners along Cary Street didn’t know what to make of the two-man march, however, it grabbed their attention due to the presence of two television crews and a photographer recording the non-event.

“I thought it was some Independence Day thing with the flag,” a street folk singer said who watched them pass by her open guitar case.

“It’s a little weird in Carytown on the Fourth of July,” Bryan Walthall said.. “I think they are a couple of dudes looking for attention.”

Spitzer and his sad crew hosted demonstrations on the Cary Street bridge, where city police had to remind them of the ordinances against using a megaphone and keeping their long guns unloaded and of the rules of engaging people on private property.

Spitzer previously said that he wanted to honor the men and women who had died for the country “since 1775,” as well as promote “responsible gun ownership” and “peaceful awareness of the right of self-protection.”

According to The Roanoke Times,  When Spitzer was asked if carrying a rifle was central to his safety midday event in Carytown, he said: “If you can’t tell me when the next crime is going to happen … then I’m going to protect myself the way I see fit.”

Which totally did not answer the question.

On Friday, some passersby accepted Spitzers leaflets, while others stayed clear of the two protesters.

One commenter said on Facebook, “What exactly are you protesting? I mean, this is Virginia — our state bird has a gun.”

Richmond Police officer Patrick Warner, the community assistance officer for Carytown, had a brief chat with Spitzer and his co-organizer near the Carytown shopping center before the duo proceeded down the street.

“I think this is their 15 minutes of fame,” he said.

By: Anomaly100