A Second Amendment rally on the Statehouse steps today drew more than 150 people, many of them with firearms at their sides or slung across their backs. “It’s a Second Amendment rally, so it’s kind of a given that you’re going to have guns here,” said Gary Pruett of Middleton, president of the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance. The group gathered to hear remarks from Wayne Hoffman and Alexandria Kinkaid along with Pruett, then moved inside to talk with legislators.

Pruett acknowledged that Idaho law already strongly protects gun rights, saying, “Compared to a lot of states we’re pretty good, but there was one gun magazine that ranked us 32^nd, because of our self-defense laws. They said we’re pretty weak.”

Some at the rally carried banners, signs or flags, including a banner opposing abortion and “Don’t Tread on Me” flag. Across the street, an armed signature-gatherer set up a table to collect signatures for a pending initiative to raise the minimum wage. Asked what he thought about all the weapons in the state Capitol, House Speaker Scott Bedke said, “I just hope everybody is responsible.”