The shot heard ‘round the world echoed through Helderberg Mountains this past weekend, as gun advocates rallied for a repeal of the SAFE Act.
The second day of Freedom Fest ’13 on Saturday, June 15, focused on the Second Amendment and featured several speakers advocating for the SAFE Act to be overturned, or at the least revised. Reenactors also marched down a trail into the nearby woods to bring the start of the Revolutionary War back to life and honor sacrifices made to ensure freedom. The event was held at Camp Pinnacle, a Christian camp and conference center in Voorheesville.
The real action was onstage, though, as speakers railed against New York’s new gun control law, the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act.
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple spoke at the event to a responsive crowd of about 150 and said people’s rights are being infringed.
“If you are even rubbing against our freedoms, we have to stand up, we have to protect ourselves and we need to fight for our rights,” Apple said. “Every day they are touching on our freedoms a little bit more and it is time that we stand up and say, ‘enough is enough.’”
Apple urged people to pay attention to their representatives and be aware of how they vote on issues. He also stressed people need to go out and vote in the first place.
“We need to pay attention to what is going on in our legislature, the laws that are being passed, the rights that are slightly being encroached upon,” he said.
Apple again stressed the SAFE Act doesn’t address local issues, because illegal handguns are the main problem. The law, he said, only goes after the lawful gun owner.
Camp Pinnacle Director Pastor Chris Gerardi said the government is trying to reduce the rights people have, but people’s rights “come from God, not man and not government.”
Gerardi said rights are being taken away from people because “we keep getting further and further away from our original guidelines, which are set forth in the bible, which our country’s government is – not was – based on.”
Catherine Kahle, organizer of Hudson Valley Americans for Freedom, said how the SAFE Act was passed without public debate is how “criminals and tyrants behave.”
Several speakers urged attendees to join up with local organizations and political committees to help affect change.
“If you are not a member of a freedom oriented constitutional group, find one right away and get involved,” Kahle said. “Going to rallies is good, but you also must be active. We got to where we are because people weren’t active.”
She stressed “voting alone is not good enough” because they also must choose the candidates that are nominated by political parties.
“You get the government you deserve if you don’t participate,” Kahle said. “Just think how we could change Albany if all the people who attended the rallies did this. We would get our state back, no problem.”
Freedom Fest ran over three days. While Saturday was devoted to the Second Amendment, Friday was devoted to recognizing Flag Day and Sunday was set aside primarily for worship. Admission to the event was free. The event was first held in 2000.