Reno lambastes Congress over gun control, praises 'Million Mom March'

Senate debate heats up in advance of Sunday's event

May 11, 2000
Web posted at: 5:25 p.m. EDT (2125 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Attorney General Janet Reno on Thursday blasted Congress for its failure to pass gun control legislation, and praised organizers of the "Million Mom March" who were gathered on the National Mall to promote Sunday's nationwide event calling for stricter gun laws.

"The (Senate) bill has languished in conference for nine months while over 20,000 people have been killed by gunfire in America. That's just simply plain, outrageously wrong," Reno said.

While both the Senate and House have passed their own bills, lawmakers cannot reach agreement on certain key issues -- among them the length of time alloted to conduct background checks for purchases made at gun shows.

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The Clinton Administration is seeking a 72-hour waiting period, while Republicans favor a 24-hour time frame. Currently, gun buyers making purchases in stores are required to undergo background checks.

Democrats and Republican also disagree on a requirement to provide child safety devices with each gun sale, as well as a proposed ban on ammunition clips for high-capacity automatic weapons.

The attorney general made her comments during her regular weekly news briefing at the Justice Department. She praised organizers of the Million Mom March for their support of gun control. The march is scheduled for Mother's Day on Washington's National Mall, and in 67 other cities across the nation.

"I think what these mothers are doing is an example of what we must do when we see something wrong," Reno said. Justice Department statistics indicate that 12 children are killed each day by gun violence, despite the fact that the crime rate is at its lowest point in years.

"This is one of the most violent countries in the world. It doesn't have to be," Reno said, adding that she plans to keep a commitment to speak at Northwestern University Law School near Chicago on Sunday afternoon, but hopes to participate in a local gun control event that day.

Organizers present 'Wall of Death'

Meanwhile, members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the founders of the Million Mom March gathered on the National Mall on Thursday to present what they called the "Wall of Gun Death" in advance of Sunday's event.

"We are going to stand together with the mothers and citizens to call on our city, to call on our Congress, to call on our states to do what it takes to end the cycle of gun violence," said District of Columbia Mayor Anthony Williams.

"We need national gun control legislation," Williams said. "This is going to continue to escalate until we take some action to stop it."

Million Mom March founder Donna Dees-Thomases joined Mayor Williams and Mayor Scott King of Gary, Indiana, in unveiling a 54-foot long, 13-foot high memorial, which lists the names of 4,001 gun violence victims who have died in the past year.

The New Jersey mother conceived the idea as she watched footage of shootings at an area day camp. Mothers whose children were killed by gun violence will speak at the Washington event, as well as similar events in other cities.

"The wall, and the sponsors of the Million Mom March, stands in memory of the more than 80 Americans lost to gun violence every day in our communities," said Dees-Thomases.

"It also stands to remind us that the million moms who march this coming Sunday for common sense gun laws, like handgun licensing and registration, that will increase our safety and prevent gun violence in our communities."

While Sunday's rally will include President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton -- along with a number of celebrities -- sponsors of the demonstration emphasized that a small group of moms are responsible for the event.

Dees-Thomases said Thursday that many of the planners "never organized anything more complicated than a car pool."

Welcoming resolution killed

March organizers are seeking to license and register all handguns, provisions not included in the pending legislation, but supported by Vice President Al Gore, the likely Democratic presidential nominee.

While Million Mom March organizers have no official plans to lobby Congress, some march participants may head to lawmakers' offices to drive their messages home, said event spokeswoman Judy Slotnik.

A resolution welcoming the demonstrators to Washington sponsored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-New Jersey) was the flash point of Senate debate on the heated issue on Thursday.

Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colorado), who was presiding over the Senate when Lautenberg offered the non-binding measure for a vote, effectively killed the move.

"What an irony it is, the senator from Colorado objects to a simple resolution," said Lautenberg, referring to the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, last year.

Senate Democrats have been threatening to engage in parliamentary skirmishing on the Senate floor for weeks to force conferees from both houses of Congress to work out differences on the gun control measures.

In the House, Reps. Connie Morella (D-Maryland) and Carolyn Maloney (D-New York) on Tuesday introduced a resolution supporting the march. "On Mother's Day, thousands of mothers, families, and honorary moms from across the United States will march in Washington and in their own communities to urge the passage of gun safety legislation," Morella said Tuesday.

Maloney, whose husband was shot and killed while riding a Long Island commuter train, and Morella kicked off the march last September with a Capitol Hill press conference.

Gun groups plan counter march

Gun groups such as the National Rifle Association have lobbied heavily against new legislation -- most notably the 72-hour waiting period -- and instead are seeking to focus congressional efforts on increased enforcement of existing gun laws.

Another group, known as the "Second Amendment Sisters" will hold a counter demonstration on the Mall Sunday, underscoring the message that not all mothers favor new gun control mandates. The group will also march to the Capitol.

Second Amendment Sisters, Inc. is a Dallas-based group founded by five women. The group supports gun safety and gun education programs, but contends that licensing and registration is "counterproductive."

Organizers of the "Million Mom March" anticipate that nearly 100,000 women and men will participate in their nationwide events on Sunday. The main rally begins at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on the National Mall and will be emceed by actress Rosie O'Donnell.

CNN's Chris Black and The Associated Press contributed to this report.