>> these people want to stand up and keep their guns because it's our right to do that and defend ourselves in a time of danger. >> reporter: thomas steele came here from west virginia. >> i actually brought two gun, but i brought smaller guns. i usually have an ak-47, but that's quite the scary rifle. i decided to bring out the .22 because nobody is shooting nothing today. >> reporter: governor ralph northam declared state of emergency which banned all weapons on capitol building grounds and brought with it extremely tight security. on capitol grounds, right in there behind this fence, this is where the state of emergency is, where you can't bring any weapons. just beyond the fence, a lot of guns. there are probably thousands of them out here, far outnumbering what law enforcement has. the extra security came following the arrest of three members of a white supremacist group threatening to come to the rally to cause a race war. but today's event ended peacefully.