With uncertainty swirling around the nation's gun laws and many national leaders calling for more restriction, some gun enthusiasts took a stand by participating in the first ever national Gun Appreciation day on Saturday.

The lanes were full at Eagle Gun Range in Macon, just days after President Obama announced a proposal to ban assault weapons and limit ammunition magazines to 10 rounds. For gun enthusiasts like Michael Johnson, the gun ban plan won't stop him from doing what he loves.

"It's one sure fire way to send a signal to the government that hey, this is what we are believe no matter what you do,” Johnson said.

Johnson is like many others across the nation who visited local gun ranges and participated in the first ever national Gun Appreciation Day. The day was organized by a Republican consulting firm called "Political Media Inc.” The movement is sponsored by a number of right -to - bear arms groups and people were encouraged to go to gun shows, ranges and stores and show support for the second amendment.

"If a right of yours is being taken away from you, you want to assure that your rights are going to stay,” Eagle Gun Range owner Hamp Dowling said. “You don't want to lose these rights."

However some people said having a day to appreciate firearms is unnecessary.

"Why do you need a day for that?” Nannette Mitchell said. “Why don't you take a day to celebrate all the people that died uselessly from guns instead of celebrating the fact that you have one?"

Despite critic’s opinions, some gun activists said the message of the day should carry out year round.

"Every day here is gun appreciation day because we respect the rights to have firearms,” Dowling said.

"I think it's excellent that folks would get out and actually exercise their second amendment rights," John said.

While some hit the range to show their support, other people in states like New York and Massachusetts went to their state capitals to take a stance against gun control.

Organizers of the day suggest the online, mailing, and media campaign reached more than 50 million people.