Exercising a right simply to draw attention to yourself doesn’t mean anything. I have a right to free speech, that doesn’t mean I stand on the corner yelling at people. I have freedom of association, but that doesn’t mean I go around starting conversations with everyone I see. If there was a vote to ban semi-auto rifles or high capacity magazines I’d be the first one there. But holding a rally for no actual purpose diminishes the message you’re trying to get out there. It just becomes noise. And yes, it also invites the idiots on the other side to start trouble, vandalize, and whatnot.
Absolutely disagree. The fact that hoplophobes are stupid and evil doesn’t mean we shouldn’t exercise our rights any time we can, or want to.