Hundreds of gun-rights advocates expected at Second Amendment rally in Hillsborough

HILLSBOROUGH Gun-rights advocates plan to rally Saturday in Hillsborough to celebrate the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Organizers expect between 200 and 300 people to attend the rally, from 10 a.m to noon at the old Orange County Courthouse.

Weapons are prohibited — state law forbids firearms at protests and rallies, while an Orange County ordinance bans them on the courthouse grounds.

Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens said he has no concerns about the gathering.

“People have the right to gather and make their point of view known,” Stevens said. “I do expect people to have strong feelings when a national issue comes to our sidewalks. We just want people to be engaged in a safe way.”