Gun rights advocates and Republican political candidates will come together Thursday for a rally in support of the Second Amendment.
York County Republicans are hosting the 5 p.m. event, which will be free and open to the public at Life Pointe Community Center in the old Charlotte Hornets training facility next to Knights Stadium.
It's part of the festivities surrounding the National Rifle Association's national convention this weekend in Charlotte.
Candidates for state and local offices each will get 90 seconds to share their views on the Second Amendment, which reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
The timing works well with GOP primaries coming up June 8, said NRA member Wayne Wilkinson.
"To me, the Second Amendment is a great litmus test as to whether somebody truly understands limited government and personal accountability," said Wilkinson, founder of York County-based Republican Sportshooters and producer of the local TV show "God, Guns & American Freedom."
Gun rights supporters represent a key Republican voting bloc, said county GOP chairman Glenn McCall.
"They're not necessarily party activists," said McCall.
"A lot of them generally don't come out to these candidate forums we have. We thought we'd take it to them."
Among the scheduled attendees: gubernatorial hopefuls Henry McMaster and Gresham Barrett, Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom and several candidates for state House and York County Council.
Life Pointe is a Christian church with locations in Fort Mill and Charlotte's Steele Creek community.
Groups can rent Life Pointe's 69,000-square-foot performing arts and recreation center.
Once home to an NBA training facility, the venue is now used for large group meetings, concerts and graduations, according to the Life Pointe website.
After the rally, South Carolina members of the NRA will hold a dinner and fundraiser in the same location.
About 300 tickets have already been sold, McCall said. For tickets, call 704-604-5603 or go to mcfonra.org.
