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Susan Walsh / AP
People walk from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, during a march on Washington for gun control.
Residents of Newtown, Conn., the scene of a school massacre in which 20 children and six adults were killed last month, joined thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington on Saturday for a march supporting gun control.
Similar organized demonstrations were planned in support of gun control in about a dozen other places across the United States, according to organizers.
In addition to the 100 people who traveled together from Newtown, organizers told The Associated Press participants from New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia would join the demonstration.
Alongside Mayor Vincent Gray, a crowd that stretched for about two blocks marched down Constitution Avenue toward the Washington Monument, where speakers called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition. Some of the demonstrators held signs that read "We Are Sandy Hook."
Education Secretary Arne Duncan addressed the crowd, saying he and President Barack Obama would work to enact gun control policies, the AP reported.
"This is about trying to create a climate in which our children can grow up free of fear," he said, according to the AP.
"We must act, we must act, we must act," Duncan said.
According to the AP, demonstrators held signs that read "Ban Assault Weapons Now," "Stop NRA" and "Gun Control Now." Other signs carried the names of victims of gun violence.
The silent march is organized by Molly Smith, artistic director of Washington's Arena Stage, and her partner.
"With the drum roll, the consistency of the mass murders and the shock of it, it is always something that is moving and devastating to me. And then, it's as if I move on," Smith told the AP. "And in this moment, I can't move on. I can't move on.
"I think it's because it was children, babies," she told the AP. "I was horrified by it."
The event is co-sponsored by One Million Moms for Gun Control, an independent organization that is also responsible for similar demonstrations in cities such as San Francisco, Chicago and Austin, Texas.
The Newtown massacre has reignited the debate over firearms in the United States, and last week Obama laid out a series of measures intended to curb gun violence, most significantly proposals to limit the size of ammunition magazines, ban assault weapons and require universal background checks on firearm purchases. That plan won little praise from Republicans.
Earlier this month, New York lawmakers approved the toughest gun control law in the nation, expanding the state's existing assault weapons ban and addressing gun ownership by those with mental illnesses.
Supporters of gun control held a rally in Washington D.C. calling for action following the school shooting tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. NBC's Kristen Welker reports.
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One more issue to divide the people! This will continue to escalate as long as the demagogues fan the coals of dissension among the masses. Yes, we would all like to have a safe and better environment but to compromise just one clause we don't like in the Constitution will compromise the body of the document in its entirety. In recent years that point was made when we did not like to see radicals burning our flag but were reminded that it goes with the territory if we wish to keep the First Amendment intact. In a free society tolerance has to be reciprocal.
Maybe the Pentagon should issue Buicks to all soldiers instead of M-16s,since cars kill more people then guns.
A gun nut thinks they are tough,when in reality they are pussies. Scared of their own shadows they always have to have a gun. They can NEVER defend themselves without a gun. "Real" men can defend themselves without a gun.pussies can't.
My 57 year old wife is a pussy. But she can blow a criminals ass away if needed. She carries & has the training & permit for it. Why would anyone be against a woman, older man or the Handicapped to be defenseless? Unless you are afraid you will be shot while committing a crime?
Ok, you think you are so strong and the man. So go down town in a big city wearing gold, flashing cash, wearing high class suit and see if you get rob or not. you will lose the fight and the things you own dum ass.
Tony I am pro gun and I do not have a weapon in my house but my bow and a base ball bat just be forewarned I can use either of those two to amass a large amount of damage :)
I guess Tony ought to get a gun. Cause we know what he is! Go back to your mommies basement!
cmalone only an idiot democrat would do that because first I AINT GONNA WASTE MY MONEY on junk like that and If I do decide to go to those areas I WILL BE PACKING AND INTEND TO NOT BE A STATISTIC ONLY MAKE A FEW STATS
yeah, Tony, bring your attitude to a gun fight, see who wins.
Tony, other than you being a douche bag, isn't it time for you to come out of the closet?
Deerhunterbow1,
Your right on. There's a reason firearms are also called "equalizers". I'm an independent/libertarian minded person, I try looking at both sides of arguments. I do notice a recurring theme. If a liberal minded person doesn't like something such as an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, they think no one should be able to own one. The conservative mindset is if you don't like a firearm, in general or a specific model, they just don't buy one.
Recently on local news here in the midwest, a sheriff was interviewed at length about firearms in the home. He had very interesting opinions. Basically, if you're not against firearms in the home, he URGED responsible, law abiding homeowners that can legally own them to have a firearm for home defense. And practice, practice, practice. He realises the simple fact that police help is not likely to arrive in time.
TONYWARVET - Guess you are such a stud you didn't need a weapon while in combat.
what kind of weapon were you issued?bet you told you pltsgt that you were a real man did not need a weapon like the rest of those pussies in your unit right?
Guys, the closest TONYFAKEWARVET ever came to combat was a video game. He gives it away every time he says something!
Tony, go back to playing Halo or Black Ops or whatever gives you this fantasy that you are a military man. Stick at being a tough guy behind computer screen or because in real life some pussy is going to kick your ass.
I love the gun nuts that believe in government conspiracies,they are no doubt insane.
Well I do not like the liberals who believe in taking away my weapons because they are the government conspirators who strive to do away with my rights
tonyfakewarvet you are nothing more than libtard hack who has no real ideas and just repeats what he hears from his mommy! by the way is that not her calling you now!
Tony,
Please read and do further research on "The Battle of Athens".
Still think it cannot happen here?
Dianne Feinstein is an embarrassment to California.
If you own a gun you should be a member of the NRA. Calling to renew my membership right now.
She as reid and franks and pelosi and several more way too far left wing people are an embarrassment to AMERICA as is obama
Newtown people go back to Newtown, anyone that wants gun control move to Newtown, leave the rest of the country alone.
The only reason Obama is pushing this issue with a set of recommendations that would have no real impact on gun violence is to draw attention away from his failure to do anything about our weak economy.
Why dont we divide the USA,,,all you libturds live on one side and all the freedom loving "gun nuts" live on the other and then lets keep statistics on crime. Bet you libturds have a higher rate! I only hope you never encounter a situation that a gun may have saved the life of one of your loved ones or even you for that matter. No, wait, I take that back. I'm in favor of a libturd free society!
I'm sure they would have a much higher rate of crime & murder. Look at all the inner cities & their gangs. ALL Odumbass supporters. They wouldn'y be alble to support themselves either. Only 1/4 of them would be working & paying taxes. Then the REAL crime starts. As long as his minions are getting that Gubament check, they are somewhat held down. Cut those checks off & see what happens.
Even better easyray, let's just ship all the libs to someplace where all their policies are already in place. They might like China. Do they have granola in China? There's no guns (except the government) and no SUVs (again, except the government) and they can eat rice every day and jog everywhere they want to go!
Actually, that's what's happening with the call in several states to secede. But it's more like the heartland of the nation (well, except Chicago and placers like East St. Louis) that wants to secede. I wonder what would happen then as it is the heartland of this nation that feeds so many and actually pays so much of the taxes as that is where the majority of the workers live. And they would lose the use of the Mississippi and the Port of New Orleans (the leeches would be told to move if they want to be taken care of by the government) as well as the revenues of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico.
The liberals would truly be crying then.
i saw a great sign on the news today I carry a gun BECAUSE A COP IS TOO HEAVY.
TONYWARVET you know I have this funny feeling your name is a fake, I am a veteren, the government was the first people to put a gun in my hands, they told me to kill little yellow people because they wanted to eat DEMOCRATIC rice.
You can bet they are going to use that same B/S in America when they say we want to eat SOCIALIST pink slime burgers.
Its one two three what are we not fighting for, we are not even putting up a fight for our republic.
i am lucky in this way, I will not be here to watch what happens when America becomes a third world waste land, thank god.
I may not even be here to see when TONYWARVET stabs 20 people to death with a sewing needle, cause he is so gentle.
Please spare us the war stories Tony B/S.
The ones from Newton would not march if this has not happen to them. Ask some of the women there if they had abortions. I bet some say yes. Remember this guns also save lives too. My guns have saved my life, my kids and my friend’s lives a couple of times at the river, lake and around town. At the time they happen it was too late for the cops to get there to help us. My AR-15 Helped because there was more than one of them and they saw that I had more rounds and a high power scope better shooting than their guns. I am a newly retired service member with over 20 years. I say fix the punishment for the criminals first and the government would be the first ones to start with. Look at the case that includes the Border Patrolmen that lose his life due to the government sold the gun that killed him. No one in the government is getting lock up in jail for their action.
So, it ok that 54,000,000 (54 million) babies were killed at the hands of doctors in the name of abortion, and thats ok, but 20 babies are killed by a mentally ill person, and thats the guns fault. the prioities of this country are way off. And all the lies and rhetoric that NRA members agree with the government, socialist media crap. NRA did a member survey, nothing like the so called media survey. If a woman can choose to abort a baby, I can choose to own a firearm of my choice. I bet you get more coverage from this b.s. march and we will not hear a damn word about the 6 million men women and children in Washington right now participating in a PRO-LIFE march. come on america, are we that blind, I say no, hell no.
A couple of thoughts:
First - there are more deaths each year by car accidents than guns so why aren't we working on banning vehicles?
Second - has it ever crossed the minds of these liberal morons that one of the reasons this country has never been invaded by a foreign country is that they know that many millions of its citizens have guns?
In a case of life imitating art, the nerd in me can't help but see the parallels of all this to the Marvel Comics storyline that kicked off their "Civil War" story.
Because of a super villain using his powers and setting off a school bus explosion, there was death at the school it was parked in front of. The backlash resulted in the government passing a law that any super powered individual had to be registered and their identity made public.
Meaning all the bad guys would know the real names and families of all the good guys. The law abiding heroes were punished while the villains wouldn't come forward (though some did and became government agents, but that's not really relevant).
A nerdy comparison, yes, but we do continue to insist that law abiding citizens be punished rather than investigating the root cause of such tragedies. Instead we want to remain blind and look for the nearest scape goat.
Why is gun crime lower in 2010, after the expiration of the assault weapon ban, than in 1999 when the assault weapon ban was in place? Why do we think the assault weapon ban will resolve the issue?
This is hilarious and it shows how far the media and NBC is willing to go to show that Americans support gun bans. I was in tourist mode in DC today. There were not hundreds of people here. There were maybe the same amount of people that are in that picture. I would say 25-30 "protestors" tops. I put that in quote because i am not sure they were all protestors. The American people as a whole do not want gun control. Yet the media publicizes this like it was a "rally".
Courtesy of the leftist propaganda machine that passes itself of as a legitimate news source.
I guess you have not done the research to see what the poll results are on this matter. How sad Sniperf2a that you can make such a fool out of yourself. The pools are showing that the majority of Americans want a ban on military assault weapons, large magazines and universal background checks. Perhaps you should do a little research in the bubble.
Those polls are flawed. pure propaganda. pure BS.
i agree
i like how people always bring up polls. and say a majority of americans want a ban on assault weapons.
did they poll every american? no one asked me my opinion. did anyone on this forum participate in this poll?
polls are not accurate, unless everyone participates in it.
Dear Dianne Feinstein
Would you please take an envelope with $60,000.00 in cash and demonstrate how to properly bribe a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge.
SBX211 SBX211 SBX211 SBX211 SBX211 SBX211
So now what was illegal has become legal and what was legal has become illegal. Has California been able to raise taxes high enough to pay for it's corrupt government?
Please sign petition to repeal SBX211
The one good point of abortion is that most are done on liberal women = less liberals!
too bad tonyfakewarvets' mom did not take that option!
Its a shame your mother could not afford to have one. The gene pool might of been cleansed.
Eazyray, you got a great idea, lets divid the country into two sides, the republick side and the socialist side, let all the won't works try to figure out who dey gonna rob now.
Who gonna pay for der cheese, baby daddys and babby ma ma's against the Fathers and Mothers Club of AMERICA.
Can we have three parts, we need to seperate the people against natural breeding also, yeah get the weirdos out too.
So lets see, you have one part of the country with too many babys that they can not feed and baby daddys and ma ma's that will not work, in the middle you got people that do not know that a square block does not go in a round hole, then on the other side of the country you have people that like to learn, people that like to work, and they have dreams of a better life through that work, with gods will.
Just like in 1950 wow.
Sounds like you belong in the group "the middle you got people that do not know that a square block does not go in a round hole"
Actually, the supporters of the republic would probably need the largest chunk, and it wouldn't be along either the west coast nor the east coast.
The sheep are going for their walk. WHO CARES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm heading off for the gun show.
I'm going to one myself, tomorrow. Going to be looking for a good one for when I get my concealed carry permit in about a month.
the last gun show they had here was way too crowded. 8000 plus people showed up.
They say they have a one million march and that is hard to believe because the town can not support them places to stay and eat. Think some one should start up a 100 million march in name of the ones that want to keep there guns and rights. Oh lets call it " 100 Million for Gun March ".
The sad thing is that most of those who want these bans are clueless of what they want banned.. the Feinstein gun bans are a bogus scam..what is being propose in these ridiculous bans is how these semi automatic rifles look ..that has nothing to do with how they function. There could be 2 semi automatic rifles and 1 would be banned because it has a certain kind of stock or a grip,and the other one wouldn't be banned...if 1 of these rifles has a certain kind of stock the liberals would then call this an assault rifle..how incredibly stupid.The liberal politicians have lied to the public by telling them that these bans would help in protecting the innocent..These bans would do nothing in the prevention of another tragedy.And the of gun bans from 1994 to 2004 proved without any doubt how ineffective these bans are..they prevented nothing. The focus should be on mental health and securing our schools with qualified security.The Feinstein bans are for liberal ideology only..and shame on Feinstein and her ilk for using the Newtown tragedy as tool for these worthless bans,and for playing politics with the safety of the innocent.
Abortion and guns.
Conservatives when you point out abortion and the Left claims it doesn’t have any relevance to the discussion of guns it’s because the left is afraid to discuss abortion and how it relates to gun control. You’re just not framing your arguments correctly. Abortion absolutely does belong in a discussion about gun control because it clearly illustrates the Moral decay of society and the Lefts Hypocrisy.
Let’s take a look at Americas Moral Compass.
In America 3,000 abortions are performed each Month. The Murder of 3,000 unborn children legally protected. What’s the Pro-Abortion rights logo? “Abortion on demand and without Apology”.
In other words they believe its ok to kill 3,000 unborn children a month and it’s perfectly acceptable. There’s no reason to believe it’s Morally wrong and you should feel bad if you do. Their arguments in support of abortion will be that it’s a Fetus, it’s because of Medical issues, there’s no one to adopt those unborn unwanted children, War on Woman, etc.
Did you forget How Upset Americans were that Russia Banned Americans from Adopting Russian Orphans?
There are not enough American born orphans to go around?
Only 7% of all abortions are because of Rape, Incest, and Medical issues and the other 93% are because of other reasons, the mother was too young, the mother can’t afford it, it will affect their life. In other words 2,700 unborn children a month are aborted and there is no Medical justification, but they frame their argument as a Woman’s Health issue and if you are against Abortion you support the War on Woman.
http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/abreasons.html
The left wants you to believe that it is Morally wrong not to do everything you can to pass gun control to save children’s lives because 20 children in the last four years or so were killed in Mass murders. We have to protect our children; we have to pass gun control laws now. If it saves just one life it’s worth it.
If you’re against gun control you’re a gun nut, don’t care about the lives of children, the NRA are terrorists, you support Murder, etc.
In other words the Left believes it’s Morally acceptable to kill 3,000 unborn children a Month, but your Morally corrupt if you are against Gun control laws that will have little or no affect on saving children’s lives.
Where does your Moral compass point?
Its ok that 3,000 babies a Month are aborted and you shouldn’t feel bad and you should feel bad if you Oppose Abortion, but how dare you speak out to Defend the Second Amendment and oppose us while we try to take away and limit your rights and you should be ashamed of yourselves and feel bad?
Kind of Hypocritical of the Left, don’t you think, to defend the right to Kill 3,000 babies a month, all the while claiming you support gun control to save children’s Lives?
Perhaps the Left needs to take a hard look at their Morals and stop telling everyone else what their Morals should be.
I reject your Morals and Trust my Own! The Lefts Moral compass is Broken and Can’t be Trusted!
If you want to know what’s wrong with the United States just look at its Moral Compass.
P.S. Congrats on the 40th anniversary of Row Vs Wade, what a Historical accomplishment, in 40 Years 55 Million abortions have been performed in the U.S. If you consider that 93% of those Abortions were for reasons other than Rape, Incest, and Medical reasons that means that 51,150,000, that’s 51 Million, of those Abortions were nothing more than Birth Control.
Tell us again how precious life is, and how we have to do everything we can to protect children, even if it saves just one life…
Well said David.
amen to that david
So you would throw away a womens right to her body? and for what? so your "religious" thought is more legitimate than a women freedom of choice
the way i see it is this, unless a woman has the crap beat out of her and held down and raped. she is the one who determines when,where,who, and how the sex is gonna go down. contraceptives are cheap, and she can tell the man , hey no glove no love. abortion, should not be a form of birth control.
religion should not make any difference, if you don't want to get pregnant , do not have sex, or take the necessary precautions. common sense.
in the form of incest,rape,mothers health. yes......birth control .....no
wow...so lets start a march against spoons for making people fat..
on cars because they also kill...
bicycles cause they cause head injurys....
stairs because people fall down them....
lord,,,,whats next
Just shows how sick/demented these people are that blame the NRA, what happened to blaming the criminal or the insane person -- common sense out the window with this loony crowd
Now before you go Ape $hit I do support better background checks to include identification of those with diagnosed mental conditions. Our criminal justice system needs improvement as well, lock away violent offenders permanently with no parole or release & stiffen punishment of crimes committed with the firearm. What I think should also be done is scrap all the 20k and counting gun laws out there, simplify it so it is easy to understand/enforce by all law enforcement & attacks the criminal not the law abiding citizen
TJ, You have some good points about the issue. The NRA is not the blame for what has happen. It shows that you do not have to go to a gun shop to get a gun. Just go and steal one from someone else. The criminals get away with it all the time. they get a slap on the hand and they do it over and over. You got it right about enforce the punishment on the criminals a lot harder.
TJ you seem to simplify the problem. The NRA is an antagonist the is not think of one solution to the problems in this country but is set on dividing it. Historically the NRA was for gun bans, imagine that. Now the NRA is for the gun manufacturers and lining their pockets. Do a little research into the history of the organization.
Liberals shouldn't be allowed to own guns. Most of the mass shootings were perpetrated by liberals.
Ft Hood:
Registered Democrat/Muslim.
Columbine: Too young to vote; both
families were registered Democrats and progressive liberals.
Virginia Tech: Wrote hate mail to
President Bush and to his staff.
Colorado Theater:
Registered Democrat; staff worker on the Obama campaign; Occupy Wall Street participant;
progressive liberal.
Connecticut School
Shooter: Registered Democrat; hated Christians.
Common thread is that all of these shooters were progressive liberal Democrats.
Also, of the worst killings in the last
several decades, only one was a female, all the rest were boys, barely men.
Their role models were rappers, action movies, comics and violent video games.
Our problem isn’t weapons, it’s boys without boundaries. Who live in ‘progressive’ households.
Jack-booted DemoKKKrats marching lock step in the streets.
Is this where I get to say "I told you so."?