'Gays Against Guns' Protested During Fourth of July Parade

Around 20 protesters with the group Gays Against Guns marched down Main Street Monday in Patchogue to advocate for greater gun control.

The group was launched in response to the June attacks on a gay night club in Orlando.

Congressman Lee Zeldin, a Republican representing the 1st District of New York, was also a prime target of the march. The protesters held signs calling Zeldin an "NRA Puppet," criticizing him for taking funds from the National Rifle Association.

Zeldin was not in town during the protest, but the group staged a "die-in" in front of his main office in Patchogue, lying on the ground to represent the people who have been killed by gun violence.

The group chanted "Vote out Zeldin, NRA puppet!" and "Killing children, killing gays, puppet of the NRA!" as they marched.

"We're publicly shaming NRA puppet Zeldin today because his record on gun-control is abysmal," said Gays Against Guns co-founder Brian Worth in a statement. In particular, the group criticizes his opposition to an assault weapons ban and strengthened background checks as well as his support for concealed-carry legislation.

Zeldin is the main sponsor of a Republican bill on gun control, which they plan to introduce this week.

Kevin Hertzog, another co-founder of Gays Against Guns, has already criticized the bill.

"His bill is a joke to make Republicans look like they're doing something on gun-control, when in fact it is nearly impossible to implement, which is exactly what Zeldin's puppetmasters in the NRA want," Hertzog said.

According to Opensecrets.org, Zeldin has indeed received funding from the NRA. In the 2014 cycle, he received $4,950 from the group. However, at least 20 other donors donated more than twice that much to Zeldin's campaign this year.

Jennifer DiSenna, Zeldin's communications director, dismissed the criticisms of the congressman.

"It's unfortunate that the Democratic Party and their most loyal supporters are politicizing this issue and protesting the Constitution on Independence Day," she told Patch. "Congressman Zeldin and others have served in our armed forces so that these protesters can shame themselves with their uninformed propaganda on Independence Day."

DiSenna also defended Zelkin's work on gun control, saying, "The debate is really over due process. If we can prevent terrorists from purchasing firearms while also not infringing on any constitutional rights and also protecting the due process rights of Americans, why should anyone settle for anything less if the honest goal is to prevent terrorists from purchasing firearms?

"These groups should unite behind Congressman Zeldin's efforts if their genuine intentions are to keep terrorists from being able to purchase firearms," she added.

Photo Credit: Amanda Holpuch