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If you don't exercise your rights, you lose them.

That's the message conveyed by more than 60 people who on Tuesday walked through Soldotna to raise awareness of Second Amendment rights -- the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

"(I'm here) just to support the fact that we have the right to keep and bear arms that shouldn't be infringed upon," said Joel Smith of Soldotna, who participated in the open-carry event with a holstered Springfield .45. "That was given in our founding documents, by our founding fathers with the intent that it wouldn't be trampled on."

Participants in the open-carry day assembled peacefully in the parking lot behind the borough administration building and visited several nearby businesses, while openly carrying a wide range of firearms, from small handguns to high-powered rifles. A sign inscribed with the text of the Second Amendment -- "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" -- was carried at the head of their column, as was a reproduction of the flag of the Culpepper Minutemen, a Revolutionary War outfit from Virginia. The flag features the phrases "Liberty or Death" and "Don't Tread on Me," along with the image of a coiled rattlesnake.

"Today we showed up as citizens, on our own, to show that the right needs to be visible," said Bob Bird of Nikiski, who helped to organize the event.

Also joining the gathering was U.S. Rep. Don Young, who called the Second Amendment the one he cherishes most of all because it's "the one that protects all the other amendments."

Young told the group he believes the worst problem he sees is that there is a group of people in government who "don't believe you have a right to think." When people no longer speak out against the government, "then democracy is in jeopardy," he said.

"You have a duty not only to be here today, but to live this for the rest of your life," Young said.

Open-carry participants said people need to understand their rights before they can stand up for them, and the purpose of the event was to raise awareness. The group received numerous supportive honks from passers-by as it made its way along the Kenai Spur Highway near the Park Avenue intersection.

"It's good to show the public that every citizen can carry a firearm, just like a police officer," said Ray Southwell of Nikiski. "It's perfectly safe -- in fact, the community is a little safer today."

Nate Smith of Nikiski said that Second Amendment proponents are concerned because of President Barack Obama's support from advocates of stricter gun control, and the potential political implications of those ties.

Young assured those assembled that he had 68 Democrats in Congress lined up to oppose any new gun control measures. Still, the disconnect between government and the governed is of concern.

Bob Pope of Soldotna said he grew up in Interior Alaska, wandering through the woods with a firearm in hand.

"The main thing is I'm an Alaskan, and I don't want my Second Amendment rights being tread upon by the liberals back in Washington," Pope said.

Scott Hamann, another organizer, said the open-carry event was supported by a number of Soldotna businesses. One of those was Beemun's Variety, the first stop for participants.

"I believe in the constitutional right of ours to bear arms," said Beemun's owner Steve Beeson. "I support that right, and I support that they're demonstrating for that right."

The open-carry day grew out of a Second Amendment Task Force meeting held in April. The ad hoc group remains an informal organization. Citing the need for better understanding of the U.S. Constitution, Bird said the next thing on the agenda is a two-day seminar on the document. The event is scheduled for June 5 and 6 at Kenai Central High School Auditorium.

The seminar will begin with a potluck and presentations at 6 p.m. June 5, and continue with presentations from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 6. Presenters will include Bird and Scott N. Bradley, author of "To Preserve the Nation" and founder of the Constitution Commemoration Foundation. Admission is by free will donation.

Will Morrow can be reached at will.morrow@peninsulaclarion.com.