2nd Amendment Rally Was All About Trump, 2016 Election
2nd Amendment Rally Was All About Trump, 2016 Election
Well over 250 people packed the J.K. Yearick Center in Howard, PA for a Second Amendment rally for Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-5) Saturday evening, and much of the talk was on the Presidential election.
“I was going to start out by asking if we should just say no to crooked Hillary…” said Alan Krug, a longtime liaison to the National Rifle Association. The crowd roared in applause.
“Hillary really started something with this ‘deplorables’ thing,” Krug said, later joking, “My wife says to me, ‘Hillary says that one of every two Trump supporters is deplorable. Do you think I’m deplorable?’” to much laughter.
The rally promoted its invitation of Eric Trump, the middle son of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to the event, but Mr. Trump was not in attendance.
Thompson was not coy with the audience prior to his remarks. He was speaking to constituents near the hotdog stand inside, throwing shirts to people in the crowd, and participated in raffling off several items, including Trump hats, pins, cups and even shotgun shells.
The conservative congressman mentioned religion throughout the night, and even had a minister start and end the rally with a prayer. “I’m proud to be with so many that support the freedoms and liberties that, quite frankly, are provided by God,” Thompson said. “Not by man, not by government, but by God.”
Congressman Thompson’s remarks drew replies like “That’s right!” “Amen!” and when mentioned, just “Trump!” Thompson said that the Second Amendment is responsible for keeping all other Amendments in the bill of rights sound and secure.
Thompson even quoted Adolf Hitler as an example of the tyranny that could occur without guns, saying, “The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subject races to possess arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so.”
“Being here today is to stand strong under the lies and attacks being advanced by liberals, who want nothing more than to disarm walleyed citizens,” Thompson said. “We cannot let that happen!”
Many attendees wore Trump hats and shirts, NRA merchandise, and American flag-themed shirts. The event — which required a registration to get in — handed out free Thompson and Trump bumper stickers, yard signs and banners. People were even offered a free reusable tote bag to carry all of their political items.
Country singer Don Malliband performed songs tailor-made for the audience throughout the night, with songs titled, “Make America Great Again,” “The Biggest Country Star is God,” and “Second Amendment,” the last of which he ended by saying, “Get out and vote!”
Beth Bason, co-owner of a gun shop nearby, delivered a story about her home being broken into and the swiftness to which the incident was stopped due to her family owning a gun. She expressed gratitude to those she believes are fighting for a sacred right.
“Thank you for being here tonight to support ‘GT’ and to support what sits behind me,” Bason said, as a large poster with a quote of the Second Amendment loomed over.
“Who else is excited to change out our current president in about six weeks?!” asked Republican state representative candidate Stephanie Borowicz. “I’ve been waiting for this for eight years!” she said, adding, “There is nothing that will bring me more joy than to see President Obama hand his presidency to Donald Trump.”
Many in the audience agreed. “We need a fresh president,” said attendee Mable Moyer of Mill Hall, PA. “Our president has disgraced us, and if Trump doesn’t get in [the White House], we’ll be a bigger disgrace,” she said. Mable dressed up her service dog Candy with an American flag-themed tutu with Trump pins and stickers all over.
Pennsylvania Republican Party Vice Chair Joyce Haas expressed her jubilation at the audience’s enthusiasm during her criss-cross around the state. “I can tell you that in all of these years I’ve been doing this, I have never seen the excitement I have seen this year,” Haas said.
“It’s just amazing.”
Stay on the train!