200 in D.C. Rally Against Gun Violence

As gun control advocates try to reinvigorate their movement, a scaled-down Million Mom March gathered Sunday to remember the violence that claimed some of the participants’ children and to call for laws that marchers say will stop it.

Barely 200 area women, men and children turned up in downtown Washington amid brilliant skies and crisp breezes for a Mother’s Day rally to promote “sensible gun laws,” an event organizers also planned in 33 other states.

It was a far cry from last year’s national rally for gun control--a gathering on the National Mall across from the U.S. Capitol that organizers said drew 750,000 people, including talk show host Rosie O’Donnell and other celebrities.

In this year’s version, Washington Mayor Anthony Williams told those assembled at “Freedom Plaza” that their efforts would help bring an end to gun violence. Even as he spoke, two dozen gun control opponents who had been moved across the street by police chanted, “Not my mom!” and “Read the Constitution!” as they held up signs, including one that said, “Criminals fear armed citizens.”

Rally organizers called for legislation to license handgun owners, register handguns, oversee the manufacturing integrity of guns, limit gun purchases and close the “gun show loophole” that allows people to buy weapons from unlicensed dealers without background checks.

About 30,000 people are killed every year in America by firearms. Gun control advocates point out that the rate of firearm deaths among children ages 14 and younger is nearly 12 times higher than in 25 other industrial countries combined.

President Bush plans his first foray into the hot-button issue this week with an announcement in Philadelphia of a $20-million plan to hire more federal prosecutors to speed up prosecution of gun crimes.

During the presidential campaign, Bush blasted former President Clinton for failing to enforce current gun laws, a theme sounded by gun control opponents such as the National Rifle Assn., which maintains that tougher prosecution of gun-using criminals, not more restrictions, is the solution to gun violence.