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Gun Rights Advocates Rally In Front Of Mass. State House

BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Hundreds of people are gathering in state capitals nationwide to rally against stricter gun control measures, including right here in Boston.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports 

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Numbers for Saturday's rally in front of the state house ranged from media estimates between 200 and 400 people to organizers' estimates of nearly 1500 to 2000 people. Photos of the event showed several hundred people in attendance.

Activists have promoted the "Guns Across America" rallies primarily via social media. They're being held days after President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping package of gun-control proposals.

Gun rights advocates called on local lawmakers to reject a recent gun control proposal, saying it would punish law-abiding gun owners.

Patrick's bill would tighten access to high-powered rounds of ammunition, create four new types of firearms-related crimes and mandate buyers to undergo background checks before purchasing weapons at gun shows.

It would also require Massachusetts courts to send all relevant mental health records to the state's criminal justice information system so the federal government could include this information in a national gun license registry.

Patrick said that would bring Massachusetts into compliance with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

His bill also includes $5 million for Department of Mental Health programs, including training teachers to recognize symptoms of mental illness in students.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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