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Posted: 5/13/2001 9:35:48 PM EDT
http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/05/13/moms.gun.control/index.html

'Million Mom March' draws 100 for gun control
May 13, 2001 Posted: 6:54 PM EDT (2254 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In vastly reduced numbers from last year's
rally, mothers who support gun control were back at the National
Mall on Sunday, renewing their calls for tougher laws aimed at
curbing firearms violence.
Only about 100 supporters attended this year, compared with about
three-quarters of a million supporters who took part in 2000.
"Any child in America can get a hold of a gun today," said Eleanor
Holmes Norton, congressional delegate for the District of Columbia.
"That's why women all across America today are converting Mother's
Day into a day for our children; a day of remembrance for children
dead from gunfire; a day to renew the battle for the gun bills
Congress left on the table last year."
Organizers of the march said this year's attendance in Washington
was lower because the focus was on promoting grass-roots action
rather than a national event. The group held rallies and related
events in 33 states to promote what organizers called "sensible gun
laws."
Also at the rally on the National Mall was Washington Mayor Anthony
Williams who applauded the participants. "Today's rally and the
rallies of 33 other states across the country are visible proof that
you're doing something to end violence," he said.
National Rifle Association spokesman Kelly Whitley said the
organization noticed an upsurge in the call for gun-control
legislation after last year's march, but added the agenda changed
with the election of President Bush.
The Clinton administration was actively pushing new gun-control
legislation, while the Bush White House says it would like to work
with existing laws.
"We are really excited to see a new administration -- one that is
looking to actually enforce the law against criminals, which we
think will have a great impact on crime in this country," Whitley
said.
Whitley said he believes the new Bush administration is why the
Million Mom March has not focused its attention on Washington, but
has instead gone to the state and local level to change laws.
Event founder lauds bipartisan support
Last year's march drew 750,000 mothers and others to the mall. Since
then, the organization has formed 235 chapters across 46 states.
Link Posted: 5/13/2001 9:36:25 PM EDT
[#1]
Million Mom March founder Donna Dees-Thomases said the group made
great strides during the past year.
"For the Million Mom March, you know it's an incredible day because
we have a day in Westchester County, New York, where we have Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton speaking at an event where Gov. Pataki will
be speaking," Dees-Thomases said. "That is true bipartisan support
for this issue." Across the street from the rally, about a dozen
protesters gathered. They charged the statistics cited by the
Million Mom March are not legitimate, and argued that preserving gun
rights and education is equally important.
According to Million Mom March, 10 children die each day from gun
violence in the United States. The Million Mom March supports the
licensing of handgun owners, the registration of handguns, creating
consumer product safety standards for guns, closing the "gun show
loophole" and limiting gun purchases to no more than one a month.
The gun show loophole is current federal legislation that allows
people to purchase guns at gun shows without a background check that
is required for gun sales at stores.
   
© 2001 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved
Link Posted: 5/13/2001 9:42:01 PM EDT
[#2]
Leave it to these gasbags to defile mother's day.
Link Posted: 5/13/2001 9:59:36 PM EDT
[#3]
Besides the obvious fact that last year's three quarter million is still one quarter short of a million, I saw pictures of that event.  It was more like 100,000.  So they only had 100 this year?  That's a damn shame.
Link Posted: 5/13/2001 10:03:16 PM EDT
[#4]
Link Posted: 5/13/2001 10:10:28 PM EDT
[#5]
I went to one of the rallies(to protest of course!), and we had about 70(with 1 coordinator), and they had about 70, including the children, the coordinators, the speakers, etc. It was pitiful on their part.
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