Note: Fyi: Utah Pro-Gun Rally

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,160009226,00.html?textfield=mama

The following story appeared on deseretnews.com on April 20, 2000, 12:00 AM MDT

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Headline: Pro-gun parents are taking aim

Subhead: ‘Pistol packing mamas’ to rally Saturday in S.L.

Author: By Lucinda DillonDeseret News staff writer

A group of self-proclaimed “pistol packin’ mamas” will hold a counterprotest to
the Million Mom March for stronger gun control Saturday at the Utah State
Capitol.

“We are sick and tired of the irrational gun haters exploiting defenseless
children and families to push their fanatical anti-gun legislation,” said
Janalee Tobias, president of the Women Against Gun Control.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m., a coalition of pro-gun, pro-family organizations that
include Women Against Gun Control, Second Amendment Sisters, Utah Shooting
Sports Council, Utah Freedom Association and the Libertarian Party of Utah will
speak out against nationally orchestrated efforts they say are aimed to strip
mothers and fathers of the right to defend their families with firearms.

“It’s dangerous and reckless to first disarm women and then mark them as easy
prey for the ruthless criminals,” Tobias said. Instead, women and children
should be taught gun safety.

“Allow mothers to carry concealed weapons to defend themselves and their kids.
Confuse the would-be rapist and murderer. Make them wonder who’s got the gun and
who doesn’t,” Tobias said.

A collection of Utahns have said they will march in Salt Lake City on Mother’s
Day with moms from around the country who will go to Washington, D.C., as part
of the “Million Mom March,” organized by Californian Donna Dees-Thomases last
August after watching news coverage of shootings at a Los Angeles day-care
center.

The Salt Lake event will take place at 3 p.m. at the City & County Building May
14 in conjunction with the national event. Local pediatricians, PTA members and
representatives from the Episcopalian, Catholic and Jewish religions will
attend.

Organizers of the Million Mom March hope Congress will require handguns to have
childproof safety locks, handgun owners to be licensed, handgun buyers to
undergo background checks before purchase and handgun purchases to be delayed
for a cooling-off period.

Tobias’ group sent out a news release Wednesday referencing “pistol packing
mamas” and their effort toward the Saturday event.

Another announcement of the event said, “One million mothers are coming after
your guns!” The Million Mom March, according to the flier, will “descend like
locusts on Washington, D.C., to try to convince Congress that all mothers
believe all gun owners are a danger to society.”

The local event’s keynote speaker will be Sheriff Richard Mack, the Arizona
law-enforce-ment officer who had a role in defeating the Brady Bill in a U.S.
Supreme Court decision, according to the Women Against Gun Control press
release. Speakers at the event will include victims of criminal violence,
mother-activists and sponsors of the rally.

Participants in the one-hour rally are asked to bring hats to represent all
those whose lives have been saved by guns.

The Million Mom March organizers have asked participants to bring shoes to
represent all those killed by criminals using guns.

You can reach Lucinda Dillon by e-mail at [email protected]

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