Gun safety groups have called off their annual gathering on Capitol Square Monday, citing safety threats that have been “promoted and encouraged by gun extremists.”

The Virginia Center for Public Safety, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence had secured a permit for an event on the Capitol steps Monday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., a few hours after the scheduled time for a much larger, pro-gun rally being planned by the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

The gun safety coalition, which had hosted the event for 28 years, had expected up to 500 people to attend this year, according to a permit issued by the state.

“Advocates have faced armed individuals trying to intimidate us each year,” Lori Haas, the Virginia director for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, said in a statement. “But this year is different; we have received information that heavily armed white supremacists will be seeking to incite violence, and our organization has decided that the safety of our volunteers, advocates, and staff, many of whom are survivors of gun violence, must be our top priority.”

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Article at https://www.virginiamercury.com/blog-va/gun-safety-groups-call-off-mlk-day-event-citing-potential-for-violence/