Several thousand gun rights supporters massed near the Virginia state capitol Monday for a rally under heavy surveillance and a state of emergency declared by authorities fearing violence by far-right groups. Dressed in hunting jackets and caps, rally-goers were checked for weapons as they passed through tight security before entering a fenced off area of Richmond's Capitol Square for the so-called "Lobby Day" event.

Many more gathered in the streets surrounding the Capitol building, some bearing sidearms or long guns, which is permitted outside the designated rally area. They carried US and Virginia state flags and a huge banner emblazoned with the image of an assault rifle and the legend: "Come and Take It."

Brooks, a 24-year-old Richmond resident who would not give his full name, came with a group of friends, including one with an AR-15 assault rifle, "to support the Second Amendment." The rally has been organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), which opposes gun control laws proposed by state Democrats, who control the Virginia government.