Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are all in an uproar over a pro-gun sign held by Second Amendment rights activists at the state capitol.

Members of the Legislative Black Caucus called yesterday for a state police investigation into the display of what they called a racist banner in the Capitol that said a Latino lawmaker should be "hung from the tree of liberty for his acts of treason against the Constitution."

The outcry came hours after several gun-rights proponents unfurled a banner saying that State Rep. Angel Cruz (D., Phila.) should be hanged for introducing legislation that would require people to register their guns and pay a $10 fee to the state police.

"People want to hang me for doing my job," Cruz said, adding that his bill was aimed at trying to reduce gun violence in his district.

"I am appalled by the actions by a group of demonstrators," State Rep. Jewell Williams (D., Phila.) said. "We will not tolerate people making threats against members."

Williams was one of 10 Philadelphia-area lawmakers who appeared at a news conference yesterday afternoon to denounce the banner's language as a "terroristic threat" that raised the ugly specter of mob violence against African Americans.

Cruz, who is of Puerto Rican ancestry, is a member of the Black Caucus.

Now hereÂ’s the sign that so offended folks.

Now the language is provocative, but clearly not a threat – especially if one has any notion of the quote referenced by the phrase “the tree of liberty”.

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

Who was the hate-mongering terrorist who is responsible for such an evil sentiment being expressed?

Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence an third President of the United States – generally credited as being one of the greatest Americans who ever lived. It refers to the reason why the right to keep and bear arms was and must be viewed as fundamental to a free society – that a free people must be armed to preserve their liberty in the face of tyranny.

So cool your jets, folks, and recognize that these demonstrators are simply more historically literate than you are. And to the demonstrators, might I suggest that you recognize your average lawmaker is not terribly bright, so it is probably best to assume that they won’t understand an appeal to the words of any president that predate “I did not have sex with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.”

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