By Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio News

Gun owners gathered outside the Minnesota Capitol on Tuesday to tell state lawmakers that they plan to be “appropriately aggressive” in protecting their Second Amendment rights during the 2015 legislative session.

Many of the same people have spent time at the Capitol in previous sessions, fighting against gun control measures. But this was the first time that two gun advocacy groups organized an official lobbying day.

“We’re here to show the public and the Legislature that we’re no longer going to idly sit back and play defense where out civil rights are concerned,” said Bryan Strawser, executive director of the Minnesota Gun Owners Political Action Committee. “We’re going to go on the offense together.”

House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, told the rally that he will stand with gun owners to protect their rights.

“I’m a sportsman myself, and I have a permit to carry a handgun,” Daudt said.

Gun owners have several proposals on their agenda.

Andrew Rothman, president of the Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance, said they want Minnesota to join 46 other states that have the right to keep and bear arms spelled out in the state constitution. He said they also want a law that would prevent police from confiscating firearms during times of emergency.

Rothman told the crowd he was very disappointed to hear that state Sen. Kathy Sheran, DFL-Mankato, was proposing to ban guns in polling places on Election Day.

“We have 185,000 permit holders in the state, and have we ever had an incident at a polling place?,” Rothman asked. “No, but someone saw a gun and it made them frightened, so let’s pass a law. I’m tired of that.”

Rothman said he was ready to fight the proposal, and he urged others to do the same. But it’s not clear whether they’ll have a bill to oppose.

Sen. Sheran said a city administrator in her district raised concerns after the November election on behalf of election judges. Sheran said she’s been looking into issue, and spoke to some gun owners about it. But she said she has not decided whether to pursue legislation.

“I’m trying to figure out why it isn’t a reasonable request to keep the polling place safe,” Sheran said. “I’m listening to all these different ways of thinking about how to improve the feeling of safety and security for these election judges. That’s as far as I’ve gone with it.”