Gun Rights, Conservative Groups Proclaim Jan. 19 As 'Gun Appreciation Day'

This week, Buckhead Patch asked readers, "Do you support gun control?" Readers responded, bringing the number of comments to well over 100, showing proof that the topic of gun control is a hot one.

Now, Americans nationwide are being urged to show their support for gun ownership by visiting gun stores, ranges and shows on Saturday, Jan. 19 -- a day designated as "Gun Appreciation Day" by a coalition of gun rights and conservative groups.

Organizers hope the event, scheduled two days before President Barack Obama's second inauguration, will rival "Chick-fil-A Day" as "a public statement of protest against government policies."

Members of the coalition include the Second Amendment Foundation, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Special Operations Speaks, Revolution PAC, Citizens and Country, Social Security Institute, Committee to Draft Judge Andrew Napolitano, Conservative Action Alerts, Women Warriors PAC, Conservative Action Fund and Political Media, Inc.

"The Obama administration has shown that it is more than willing to trample the Constitution to impose its dictates upon the American people," said Gun Appreciation Day chairman Larry Ward, president of Political Media, Inc. in a released statement. "If the American people don't fight back now, Obama will do to the Second Amendment what he has already done to the First with Obamacare; gut it without a moment's thought to our basic constitutional rights."

According to a coalition press release, gun rights movement leader Alan Gottlieb founder of the Second Amendment Foundation and chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms stated, "We need to ban politicians who assault our rights, not firearms that are used thousands of times a day to protect lives and property from criminal attack."

More information about the event is available on the Gun Appreciation Day Facebook page and on the Gun Appreciation Day website. The website also features a petition, shareable memes and printable flyers.

Will you take part in Gun Appreciation Day? Let us know in the comments.