A group of residents in northern Idaho lined outside a U.S. Navy veteran's house on Thursday to protest claims that federal officials are planning on confiscating the man's weapons.
Idaho Republican state Rep. Heather Scott says the Veteran Affairs office has sent a letter to John Arnold of Priest River warning him that he cannot possess or purchase firearms.
Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler says he and his deputies will stand guard against any federal attempts to remove Arnold's guns.
However, Veteran Affairs spokesman Bret Bowers says that the agency does not have the authority to confiscate weapons.
During Thursday's demonstration, the group at times broke out in song to sing "God Bless America" and pray while waving both the American flag and the Gadsden "Don't tread on me" flag.