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CNN Sunday Morning
Annual NRA Convention Draws Protest
Aired May 20, 2001 - 08:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: According to the new head of the Interior Department, hunters and other gun owners are the nation's stewards of the great outdoors. Gale Norton appeared at the annual convention of the National Rifle Association and said NRA members are America's unsung conservation heroes.
Well, the NRA's annual convention is a case study of the U.S. Constitution, with NRA members inside touting the Second Amendment while protesters outside exercise their First Amendment rights.
Bob Stepanich (ph) of affiliate WDAF in Kansas City has this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB STEPANICH, WDAF CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The National Rifle Association opened its annual meeting with President Charlton Heston honoring the group's youngest lifetime members. The proud mother paid up the lifetime dues for her twins who are but a month old. Meanwhile, across the street, many mothers rallied for their own tots.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: I ain't gonna study war no more. I ain't gonna study war no more.
STEPANICH: One protester says the rally reminded him of something out of the '60s. Nearly 200 people representing a coalition of gun safety and civil rights groups gathered to make their voices heard.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are here to rally for people over profits.
STEPANICH: The Kansas City chapter of the Million Mom March spearheaded this meeting. Their profit our loss is the battle cry. They say gun makers are making money while people are being killed.
STACEY NEWMAN, MILLION MOM MARCH: We lose 10 kids a day in this country to gun violence and the gun makers have done nothing to ensure that this doesn't happen.
STEPANICH: And 10 empty seats on the stage serve as a subtle reminder of those lives lost.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No longer will it be your profit and our loss. I'm telling you, don't mess with us mamas.
STEPANICH: Meanwhile, down on the corner, more signs, this time from NRA members who waved their own flag of freedom.
RANDY FARR, NRA MEMBER: The one thing, the people that exercise the most freedom must also exercise the most responsibility and most gun owners, 99 percent of them, I truly feel, know this and realize this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: The NRA votes for its president tomorrow. Current President Charlton Heston, says he will seek an unprecedented fourth term.
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