Wednesday, February 28, 2001

Gun rights rally draws 400 backers

By JODIE E. JACKSON JR.
News Tribune

More than 400 gun-rights supporters crowded the Missouri Capitol Rotunda this morning for a rally celebrating Missouri’s firearms heritage.

“Guns represent a piece of American culture that, without them, we would never have become a free country,” said featured speaker Richard Mack, the former Arizona sheriff who successfully sued the federal government over gun restrictions imposed by the Brady Law. “The reason we need guns is because we need freedom. Do you know how many slaves owned guns?”

More than three dozen legislators, including House Speaker Jim Kreider, D-Nixa, were introduced throughout the rally as a way to demonstrate bipartisan support for pro-gun legislation and issues.

“I just want you to know that I own a gun,” Kreider said, drawing a surge of applause. “And sometimes I carry a gun. And I’m a Democrat.”

Kreider said he “fiercely” believes in the rights on which the nation was founded, “especially the right to keep and bear arms.”

Gun rights supporters were encouraged to visit with senators, who were set to debate today a bill that would ban frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers.

Another speaker, Glen Norton, chief counsel for Gov. Bob Holden, was applauded for telling the rally that he is a hunter, gun owner and gun collector, adding, “I can promise you this: Your issues are important. They will be heard; they will be considered.”

Mack, who has 19 years of law enforcement on his resume, said apathy among America’s 75 million gun owners is perhaps the biggest enemy of the gun-rights lobby.

“A lot of you are already very active — but you have to do more,” he said. “You have to make up for those (gun owners) who are apathetic and uninvolved.”

Mack’s message was also intended for legislators.

“You are sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution,” he said. “Your personal opinion about guns doesn’t matter. You have taken an oath. You cannot question anything about gun ownership. (The second amendment) is not talking about the militia or the National Guard. The militia was the people.”

Mack added: “If 99.9 percent of the citizens of Missouri came to you and said, ‘We want gun control,’ you’d have to say, ‘No’.”

The rally, organized by several gun-rights and gun-safety groups, took place just around the corner from museum exhibits of antique firearms and handguns.

“The safest and most effective way for you to defend yourself from a would-be attacker or rapist is with a handgun,” Mack said.