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Politics : GOPwinger Lies/Distortions/Omissions/Perversions of Truth -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (41381)	4/10/2005 11:27:13 PM
From: American Spirit	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 173976

Why does the NRA hold rallies after every gun massacre? NRA goes ahead with Tucson rally days after shootings - JONATHAN DREW, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, October 30, 2002 (10-30) 16:40 PST TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- The National Rifle Association and its high-profile leader Charlton Heston went ahead with a rally here Wednesday, just two days after three university professors were gunned down by a flunking student who was also a gun collector. An estimated 700 people attended the get-out-the-vote event for Arizona Republican candidates at the Tucson Convention Center, located just four miles from Monday's shootings that left four dead at the University of Arizona's nursing school. NRA Chief Executive Officer Wayne LaPierre defended the rally's timing, saying the event had long been planned and there was no connection between the gunman's actions and what his organization stands for. "I honestly think that if a madman had driven a car into a crowd and if there was a car convention scheduled, they wouldn't cancel the convention," LaPierre said. Nonetheless, several Tucson residents showed up outside the rally to protest the event. They greeted attendees with neon posterboard signs bemoaning the organization's gun policy and said they couldn't believe the NRA would still hold its rally in light of the shootings. "We're here to tell Charlton Heston to go the hell home," said Sean Hammond, 31. "We just had the worst shooting in the history of Tucson just two days ago." But another Tucson resident who attended the rally -- Mike Middono, 41 -- said "that tragedy would not have happened if more people had guns." At the rally, several NRA officials told the crowd to protect their freedom by voting for NRA-endorsed candidates and pro-gun videos were shown. The crowd cheered loudly during most of the speeches, and they booed and hissed when the speakers mentioned politicians who were perceived as having anti-gun stances. Heston took the stage at the end of the program. He addressed the crowd briefly, made no reference to the shootings and didn't refer to any of the candidates by name. "This election is very important," Heston said. "Who you're voting for is not about this man or woman. It's about freedom." Before the rally, state attorney general candidate Andrew Thomas said he believed the event could deliver a positive message. Thomas once wrote a book that called for all men without criminal records to arm themselves and participate in neighborhood watches. "This rally is about self-defense against violent predators such as the murderer who killed three innocent professors," Thomas said. "We must never allow violent offenders to deny us our constitutional freedoms." Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Salmon was scheduled to appear at the rally but did not attend. NRA officials said Salmon had canceled all Tucson appearances out of respect for the shooting victims. * same exact thing they did right after Columbine.