Smith County Gun Rights Rally

SMITH COUNTY — Hundreds of concerned citizens gathered at Rose City Flying Clays, north of Tyler, Saturday for a “Day of Resistance” rally. The event, similar to others nationwide, is termed a grassroots effort to organize local conservatives to stand up and protect their 2nd amendment rights. Former Smith County Republican chairman and current Grassroots America – We the People member Ashton Oravetz says the power of the American people is potent. He told KETK he was pleased to see the effort happening locally and across the country. Grassroots America executive director JoAnn Fleming spoke about preserving the second amendment and American liberty. “Never let it be said that liberty died on our watch,” said Fleming.

Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith took a stand publicly. Smith told the crowd, “We here in Smith County, Smith County Sheriff’s office, and I assure you every sheriff across the state of Texas, the other 253 of them — I would expect to stand right along beside me in defending your right to keep and bear arms should anyone try and take it away from you.” State Representative Bryan Hughes ran down the list of current bills in our state legislature that he says are aimed at protecting the 2nd amendment and pushing back against Washington.