Dozens of lawmakers stood on the capitol steps today in Pennsylvania for a 2nd Amendment rights rally. Advocates from across the state came in support of what remains one of America’s most divisive government topics.

Today’s rally featured speakers with the national group Gun Owners of America. There was an emphasis on the diversity of gun owners— recent surveys show 48% of new gun owners are women.

"If you truly were pro women and being for women empowerment then you would be on the side of the second amendment,” said Antonia Okafor-Coover, director of women’s outreach for Gun Owners of America. “Because you know what the great equalizer it is. You know it's a way that we can defend ourselves."

Overall there was an eager crowd, albeit smaller than past years, with around 150 people.

One group who came out was members of That Gun Talk.

“We started it because he gave me a firearm that I didn’t know how to utilize.”

Karise Allen-Crew and her husband founded That Gun Talk- a gun club- in the Philadelphia area around 2020. Their goal? Educate and train gun owners.

“We’re giving out gun locks, we’re giving out pamphlets about proper education for storage, safety, how to shoot your firearm, where to store it and all those things,” said Naki Edward, vice president of the club.

In the capitol behind speakers, gun violence remains a volatile topic. House Democrats this session have pushed for restrictions on ghost guns— which are often made from kits with mostly unserialized parts.

“There’s been a 4000%, almost a 5000% increase in the number of ghost guns recovered by law enforcement just in the city of Philadelphia alone. In the time span of just four years,” said Josh Fleitman, campaign manager with Ceasefire PA, an advocacy group against gun violence.

"And if you talk to not just law enforcement in Philadelphia, but in more rural and suburban places, too, they'll tell you they're seeing these ghost guns come up. They are extremely concerned about their difficulty or inability to track and trace,” said Fleitman.

While the House did pass ghost gun legislation requiring kits to have serial numbers on it— the Republican held Senate is unlikely to take action this session. More broadly in the state, the city of Philadelphia did recently reach a settlement this month with two major ghost gun suppliers; requiring them to not sell in the city.

Advocates like Allen-Crew and Edward say restricting gun access for law abiding citizens is not the solution.

“I feel like education is the key. I don’t feel like people would be against our two-way rights if they were educated and trained properly,” said Allen-Crew.