State Senator Tim Knopp and Representative Jason Conger addressed a packed house at the Central Oregon Shooting Sports Association (COSSA)Thursday night.

Knopp first spoke about the need let their voices be heard as politicians debate impending gun control laws.

"We need to make sure that we are defending the rights of all the citizens who legally own guns in this country. And so my message to you is simple: whatever you can do, whether that's sending an email, a letter, write a letter to the newspapers and respectfully and factually deliver the message, that gun ownership is a right in this country."

Knopp says while there has been talk from some legislators in the Portland area about radical gun or ammunition restrictions; he believes that the majority of Oregonians appreciate legal and responsible gun ownership.

Bill Lewis, President of COSSA says the issue is not as simple as taking away or restricting guns or ammunition.  "Well, I think that we've got a lot of things that are broken. And instigating new laws that restrict ownership of firearms is not going to fix anything. And we're right now in an emotional situation because of what's been going on and I think we should cool down a bit before we do something.  And I think that there are people that, their whole livelihood is to take away our firearms and history says that they shouldn't do that and they don't seem to be listening to history."

Lewis says a reasonable compromise has already been talked about and doing away with "scary guns" and limiting magazine capacities is ineffective and an "executive order" will violate the constitution.