It was standing room only as a large crowd gathered to hear from Congresswoman Elise Stefanik in South Glens Falls this afternoon. Our Matt Hunter has more on the Republican’s town hall event.

SOUTH GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – The line stretched out the door and up the block from the Moreau Community Center as nearly 200 constituents from the 21st District entered to hear from their representative in Congress, Elise Stefanik.

"I think it's a great turnout,” said Barbara Kerr, a member of the Milton Town Council and Stefanik supporter who was standing outside shortly before the event began. “I don't think I'm going to get inside. I would have liked to, but I think they're going to be at capacity."

At her 16th "Coffee with Your Congresswoman" event since taking office in 2015, Stefanik addressed an array of issues. Some, like how the upcoming Farm Bill can potentially curb the record low milk prices crippling dairy farmers, are of true local concern.

"Dairy farmers are struggling to survive," Stefanik told the audience.

Stefanik says she's pushing for changes to the Margin Protection Program (MPP) that's designed to provide financial relief when prices plummet.

"Of all the farms I've visited, I haven't heard one farm say the MPP program is working," she said.

Other topics, like President Donald Trump's plan to deploy National Guard troops to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border, are of broader national interest.

“Given all of the challenges we face around the world today, that is not necessarily the best use of our National Guard," Stefanik said.

The one question that was asked of the Republican most often was why, in the wake of repeated mass shootings, she continues to oppose gun control efforts like banning semi-automatic weapons.

"When are we going to stop the carnage?" asked Queensbury resident Paul Tinney, who said he’s a lifetime gun owner, but longer belongs to the NRA.

"Please explain to me why we need weapons with the kind of lethality of the AR-15 and others?" asked Tom Massa of South Glens Falls.

While audience members criticized her because they believed she was avoiding answering the specifics of their questions, Stefanik repeatedly responded that she supports the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

"I just fundamentally disagree when it comes to protecting our Second Amendment rights," Stefanik responded to Tinney’s question.

Following the event, Stefanik told reporters she supported federal bills to ban bump stocks, which simulate automatic weapon fire, and increase background checks, but backed up her stance on semi-automatic weapons.

"I do not support banning semi-automatic weapons,” Stefanik said. “This district has a long legacy of safe and responsible gun ownership."

After the town hall, she said she was grateful to discuss the issues with her constituents, even when they don't always agree.

"This is a diverse district in terms of political ideologies, and I'm working my hardest to do the best job I can and be an independent voice for this district," she said.

Stefanik has another “Coffee with Your Congresswoman” event scheduled for noon on Friday at the Moriah Fire Station.