Twin Cities Pro-Gun Group Cancels Plans for 'Open Streets' Display

Editor's Note: This article was published at 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2013.

A local pro-gun forum has killed its plans to attend the Open Streets event on Lyndale Avenue South in Minneapolis *Sunday.

Members of the Twin Cities Gun Owners & Carry Forum had originally planned to gather at Lyndale Avenue and West Lake Street from 1–3 p.m. However, the gun-rights group announced that it would cancel the meet up on Facebook Thursday morning:

I know that I'm going to take serious flack for this, but I'll take the lumps. Out of serious concern for the safety of our members, due to posts on our page and elsewhere online, we are canceling our meet up at the Open Streets event. Due to the biased spin by the media placed on what would have been a peaceable social gathering, it became clear that intolerant, anti-gun zealots planned to bully, harass and antagonize us at the event. I can’t in good conscious lead good people into a situation like that. 
We must continue on our mission of moving forward in a positive direction, and that would be hampered by proceeding with this meet up. This will not effect our regular meet ups and events.
I’m sure some of you may disagree, but let’s save our energy for things that matter. Beat me up if you wish, but this is my decision.
Thanks for understanding.

According to MinnPost, after announcing plans to attend the event earlier in the week, the group suffered some backlash from the neighborhood organizers. However, some gun forum members said they'd still show up but not openly display their guns, MinnPost reported.

Open Streets extends 20 blocks on Lyndale Avenue between 22nd and 42nd streets, and will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. *Sunday, June 23. 

What do you think of this development? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Editor's Note: The event is Sunday, not Saturday.