Man with assault weapon was part of planned protest

A spokesman for the group said the black man interviewed by what appeared to be a radio reporter outside the Phoenix convention center was a set up to draw attention to gun rights issues.

"What we wanted to do was to make sure that people around the country knew that law enforcement in Phoenix, Arizona protects our rights," said Ernest Hancock, of a group called FreedomsPhoenix.com. Hancock told CNN's Rick Sanchez that they planned the whole thing with local police.

Despite the radio show ploy, there was a distinctly conservative political message to the gun demonstration. The demonstration was anti-government and pro-gun. "We're up against a radical government that will rob the next generation as long as they can get away with it," Hancock said.

Although the interview was apparently staged, the viewpoints expressed were honest, according to Hancock. He said the African American man, who called himself "Chris," who brought the assault rifle sincerely believes that his rights are being challenged by a government that wants to take away his guns.