Posted on 05/09/2004 5:19:34 PM PDT by kristinn
The Second Amendment Sisters, some of whom here may remember were born on Free Republic, held their second national rally to counter the Million Mom March in Washington, D.C. today.
While both gatherings had fewer participants than expected, the turnout for the anti-gun MMMs had to be disappointing.
Four years ago, with a White House send off by President and Mr. Clinton, the MMMs claimed 750,000 people attended their Mothers Day rally in D.C. A year later, a few hundred returned to the nation's capital for the MMMs. This year, only 2,000 people made the Mothers Day trek to call for more gun control laws.
With the pro-choice march two weeks ago having drawn hundreds of thousands of supporters, it would seem that the liberal body politic has chosen abortion as its do-or-die issue this year, leaving the fight for more anti-gun laws on the back burner.
The Second Amendment Sisters also saw a sharp dropoff in attendance figures from four years ago. In 2000, about 5,000 people attended their pro-gun rights Mothers Day counter-rally in D.C. This year, about 300 supporters attended their SAFER Rally (Second Amendment Freedoms for Everyone Rally.)
In a strange twist, both organizations had their rally headquarters in the same hotel: The J.W. Marriott. Yesterday afternoon, dueling merchandise and information tables were set up forty feet apart in the lobby.
With the exception of a MMM t-shirt wearing woman who got on an elevator with a SASter and told her she wished she had a gun so she could shoot the SASter, things were pretty calm between the two camps.
MMM leader Donna Dees Thomases later apologized on behalf of MMM to SAS for the death threat.
The weather was perfect for rallies and marches in D.C. The SASters started setting up at Freedom Plaza, located at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, around 6 a.m.
The MMMs started their set up at the West Lawn of the Capitol around midnight.
By 11 a.m., it was apparent to the SASters that they would be drawing a small crowd. They had planned for up to 5,000, the same as four years ago, but that was not to be.
However, the 300 or so people there stayed until the rally ended around 2:30 p.m. The speakers were excellent--the kind who don't make you want to start looking for a museum to escape to.
Shemane Nugent, Kay Daly, Niger Innis, John Lott, Jr., Re-Joyce Smith, and Sarah Roush (Miss Teen New Mexico, 2003) were among the many interesting and passionate speakers.
The rally was emceed by the very funny comedienne, Julie Gorin, from New York City.
Media interest was about what one could expect: The Washington Post and New York Times were there, as were WTOP-AM, WRC-TV, CNN, NRA-TV and ABC News.
There about two dozen FReepers in attendance, along with a few LPers.
FReepers I can remember seeing there include (chime in if I miss you): Angelwood, tgslTakoma, daughterofTgsl, Doctor Raoul, rabidralph, Scholastic, leadpenny, BufordP, stand watie, Badray, basil, pistolpknmama, dbwz, Pro2Amom, BruceFromMtVernon, Exit148, SaundraDuffy, gunsareOK and a few more whose screen names I can't recall.
LPers there were Fred Mertz and Cal.
Besides the rally, the SASters had meetings with their state coordinators and an awards reception the night before. Monday, they have a meeting scheduled on Capitol Hill.
The SASters would of course have liked to see more people attend their rally, but they still consider the entire effort a success. They got their name and message out in the media, their organizational meetings went well and they're primed to expand this year.
The MMMs, on the other hand, have been in freefall since after their first rally and are being propped up by liberal politicians, a sympathetic media and the Brady Campaign.
The SASters have been doing this on their own. The fact that a true grassroots group started on FR by five lady FReepers is still alive and kicking four years later is great news.
The hypocracy of the left has no bounds. The MMM is supposed to be pro-speech, anti-gun, and anti-violence yet here is an idiot wishing she had a gun to MURDER someone who simply disagreed with her and expressed a different opinion. I would demand that assault charges be brought up against her.
I second it on the speakers ---exceptional. I also liked the opening readings from different SAS State Co-Ordinators --who read news accounts of instances where the use of a gun thwarted or ended an attack.
Something funny -- I bought a ball point pen - in the shape of a big bullet - at the SAS goods table. (guage anyone?). The actual shell is real, but it is only a pen. When I went to the parking garage at the Reagan building, I had to pass thru security. Before I put my bags on the moving belt, I stopped and pulled out my 'bullet' to show them. I told them I didn't want it to show up on the x-ray and cause an incident. They were curious, but allowed it thru. I guess I didn't look like a gun-totin'moll! LOL!
Actually, one of the security guards was more concerned about my carrying my poster/sign. He said that posters weren't allowed in the building. I told him that I had spoken to him earlier in the building when I was trying to find which door to go in and out of - and I had the poster then. He hadn't noticed it, he said. I also told him that I was simply going to my car - nowhere else, --so he let me through. It is too bad that it has to be this way, but the 3 guards acted very professional, and were very alert.
For other folks who are interested, I was told that they can be ordered from the SAS website. (I haven't checked, I'm off to sleep for now)
Exit, it's always a joy to visit with you, but we never seem to have enough time...
Until next time, sister!
Looks like SAS really took the wind out of the MMM sails last year.
Million Mom March Professional Protester's Prattle.
Like COBOL2Java, I have to keep the home fires burning- home is my Duty Station, and I just can't get away for long. But I do greatly applaud everyone who pitches in, in whatever capacity. Thank you, all.
The Democrats aren't stupid enough to ignore the plain fact that, if it weren't for the votes they lost on the gun prohibition issue, Al Gore would be President.
For all that showed up, thank you. It was great seeing you guys. For those that didn't, don't complain if we fail to restore the rights illegally taken regarding guns. You didn't help when we needed it.
To say that I am disappointed is an understatement.
Mike
A reporterette was taking notes, and asking one of the observers about how he felt about guns and an incident that had happened, in the very area recently, involving a child. The interviewee was at a loss for words, and Buford decided to speak up. He asked the reporterette if this incident happened in the very district that has the strongest gun control laws in the land?? I guess that shut her up.
As one of the speakers, on stage, had said --- 'she was speaking to the choir'. She was, but there were people there, hoping to catch us slipping up, so they could spread it in their publications.
I surfed the channels last night, and did see that CBS had scanned their cameras across us. (I saw my poster)
This Marriott I'm staying in, DOES NOT have FNC. I'm going to complain when I check out!! I don't like Imus anymore, and have CNN on. I'd forgotten how biased it is. SoledadO'B is impossible!!!!
we had more MOTHERS than i had FLOWERS! SORRY!
free dixie,sw
i have it on good authority that ALL DIMocRAT politicians have asked the radical anti-gun crowd to BUTT OUT.
the DIMS KNOW that "gun control" cost them NOT only the POTUS race in 2000, but also assured/assures that both houses will remain GOP-controlled.
free dixie,sw
Mike
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