Mothers Beg Dole, Gingrich To Stand Up To Nra Mothers Of Children Killed By Guns Urged Lawmakers To Oppose The Repeal Of The Ban On Assault-Style Weapons

Mothers of children killed by guns urged lawmakers Monday to oppose repeal of the ban on assault-style weapons and accused Republican leaders of bowing to the gun lobby.

At a news conference organized by Handgun Control, the group displayed several posters filled with snapshots of the dead children and letters, poems and newspaper clippings.

“This giant Mother’s Day card is a reminder of what thousands of mothers across the country did not find in their mailboxes this year,” a sign said. “They did not receive a card because their children were taken away from them - victims of gunfire. There are too many names and faces on this card.”

Firearms cause the death of more people age 15-24 than all natural causes combined, and they are the No. 2 cause of death of those age 10-34, after car crashes, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Each day, 15 children age 19 and under are killed with guns.

The mothers, led by Handgun Control Chairwoman Sarah Brady, urged members of the House and Senate to sign a pledge to oppose “any legislation that would repeal or weaken” the ban on assault-style firearms that was part of last year’s $30 billion anti-crime law.

“We do not want to (increase) the growing numbers of moms who have lost their beloved children,” Brady told the news conference next to the Capitol’s Reflecting Pool.

House Republicans had been pushing a repeal of the ban and had planned a vote this month on the legislation. But after the April 19 bombing in Oklahoma City, they decided to delay the attempt.

Lois Hess of Baltimore, whose 24-yearold son, Stuart, was shot and killed, challenged the Republican leaders, House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, to stand up to the National Rifle Association.

“Are your allegiances to the NRA stronger than your responsibility to protect the children of this country?” Hess asked. She said she was “begging the leaders of Congress to think of the children before they think of the NRA.”

Byrl Phillips Taylor of Richmond, Va., said she made some 50 telephone calls last week to Dole’s and Gingrich’s offices but could not get meetings with them.

“I guess I just don’t have the power of the NRA,” said Taylor, referring to the lobby group’s substantial contributions to some members of Congress. She said her son, Scott, then 17, was shot by an AK-47 semiautomatic weapon.

Dole spokesman Clarkson Hine, asked about Taylor’s statements, provided a letter Dole wrote her last Thursday. “I was saddened to hear of your tragic loss and want to extend my sincere apologies for not being able to meet with you personally,” Dole told her. He urged her to meet with a member of his staff.