8,000 protest NRA convention in Denver

May 1, 1999
Web posted at: 7:46 p.m. EDT (2346 GMT)

DENVER (CNN) -- Some 8,000 demonstrators turned out Saturday to protest the National Rifle Association during its scaled- back annual convention in Denver.

The meeting attracted heavy criticism for being held less than two weeks after Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shot to death 12 classmates and a teacher before turning their guns on themselves at Columbine High School in nearby Littleton.

Students and parents from Columbine and other schools joined gun-control groups and local leaders Saturday in a march from the state capitol to the Adams Mark Hotel, the site of the NRA meeting.

They formed a human chain around the venue and carried signs that read "Shame on the NRA" and "NRA, pusher of Child Killer Machine."

NRA: We're not the 'villain'

Inside, NRA President Charlton Heston --wearing a blue and silver ribbon in memory of the Littleton victims -- blamed the media and gun control groups for casting the nation's largest gun advocacy organization "as the villain."

About 2,500 people were expected to attend Saturday's meeting. The annual convention usually draws 25,000 gun advocates.

"That is not our role in American society and we will not be forced to play it," Heston told NRA members.

Anger remains

Although the group took down billboard advertisements in the area, canceled a gun show and scaled back the convention from three days to one, local leaders remain angry.

"When a community is grieving and going through a mourning, when you have more than 65,000 people showing up for services and people are burying these kids, you shouldn't have a meeting that talks about selling more guns," said Denver Mayor Wellington Webb.

"I don't know how many times you have to call and tell them they're not welcome," he added.

Among the protesters Saturday was Tom Mauser, who son Daniel was killed in the attack

"Something is wrong in this country when a child can grab a gun so easily and shoot a bullet into the middle of a child's face, as my son experienced," said Mauser. "Something is wrong."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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