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Moms March for Gun Control on Mother's Day

by Lori A. Cascone

They wore festive straw hats, donned carnations, and pushed their babies in strollers under a clear blue sky, but they weren't celebrating Mother's Day at family brunches and barbecues. These moms and others were at the nation's capital and in several cities around the country marching in rallies to advocate strict gun-control laws.

Organizers of the Million Mom March, in Washington, D.C., say there were 750,000 marchers, but that number could not be confirmed, because the federal Park Police no longer gives crowd estimates after years of controversy over such hard-to-track statistics. Whatever the exact number, the washingtonpost.com reports this was the largest-ever protest against gun violence.

Gamut of Emotions
A day of tears and cheers, the event consisted of speakers including actress Susan Sarandon and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell, who served as the mistress of ceremonies. Amid rallying cries of "enough is enough," O'Donnell denounced the National Rifle Association, saying women and children are the majority of Americans, and demanded, as the washingtonpost.com reports, "it is time we are heard."

Other speakers included mothers and others who lost or nearly lost a loved one in a shooting incident, such as last year's Columbine High School tragedy in Littleton, Colo., where 15 people lost their lives.

In addition to speakers, the event sported clowns and games for the kids, and many a tear was shed at a memorial wall listing the names of thousands of victims of gun violence.

But not everyone who attended the event thought it presented a positive message. According to the New York Times article,"Mothers March to Assail Gun Violence," "registration and licensing schemes" were "a controlled burn of the Second Amendment, and setting fire to freedom should never be the answer," said Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the NRA.

Hear Me Roar
Whether or not freedom is an issue, the Million Moms March clearly expressed the sentiments — and voting choices — of many U.S. citizens. According to a Gallup Organization survey of more than 1,000 adults taken for Women.com, many more women choose gun control over abortion as a key issue in deciding who they will vote for in this year's presidential race.

Too bad President Clinton's time is up — he and Hillary Clinton attended the historic event to support the rally as well as tighter gun-control laws. Could this be a feather in the First Lady's senatorial cap?