A man whose son was killed in the Columbine High
School shootings literally walked in his child's shoes to the National
Rifle Association convention, where he hoped Vice President Dick Cheney
would address the federal assault weapons ban set to expire in
September.
Tom Mauser, whose son Daniel was killed with an assault weapon in the
Littleton, Colo., killings five years ago Tuesday, said continuing the
ban is common sense.
Assault weapons "are the weapons of gangs, drug lords and sick people,"
Mauser said before his three-block march to the convention, which runs
through Sunday. "It is a weapon of war and we don't want this war on
our streets."
[...]
Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry issued a statement before
Cheney's address, saying "most voters don't know that (Bush and Cheney)
are standing against major police organizations and breaking their
promise to renew the assault weapons ban - which helps keep
military-style assault weapons out of the hands of criminals and
terrorists."
Mauser entered the convention hall where the NRA was meeting, but was
turned away by a security guard as several conventioneers applauded. A
couple of conventioneers yelled "Get a life" and "Vote for Bush."