The media will probably say 750,000 MMMs showed up. 
http://www2.startribune.com/stOnLine/cgi-bin/article?thisStory=82426523
Gun control debate to fire up annual bridge walk
By JOHN FLESHER / Associated Press Writer
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) -- An eyeful of breathtaking scenery and an earful about gun control.
Both are in store for Monday' s 43rd annual Labor Day walk across the Mackinac Bridge, the 5-mile span linking the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula.
Women from several Upper Midwestern states who participated in the Million Mom March in Washington, D.C., last May are bringing their campaign for tougher gun laws to the bridge walk.
" We're trying in whatever way we can to get the message across that we're still here, still very serious about our goal of commonsense gun legislation," said Susan Brown, a coordinator from Grosse Pointe Park.
Countering their message will be members of pro-gun groups.
"We want to focus on educating people ... emphasizing that it' s better to have our families protected than left vulnerable, " said Pat Alzady, spokeswoman for Second Amendment Sisters and the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners.
Both groups hope to have a booth in Mackinaw City near the south end of the bridge, Alzady said Thursday. Some members will distribute literature while others join the trek.
Members of the Million Mom March organization will congregate in St. Ignace, on the bridge's north side, Brown said. They'll make the crossing together, wearing T-shirts and carrying signs.
She expects about 1, 000 supporters from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Tens of thousands take part in the annual walk, the only time when the bridge is open to pedestrians.
It' s billed as a nonpartisan, family-oriented gathering, but often carries political overtones -- especially during election years.
The governor traditionally leads the walk and candidates for office often show up, trailed by placard-waving supporters. Former President Bush joined in while campaigning for re-election in 1992.
Hank Lotoszinski, executive secretary of the Mackinac Bridge Authority, said the agency prefers that "political issues and concerns be left at home for this event."
Still, he said walkers can support whatever cause they wish as long as they don't obstruct others. Politically oriented T-shirts and small placards are fine, but not large banners or bulky signs, he said.
Both sides in the gun debate say they consider the bridge walk fair game for promoting their views but aren't looking for trouble.
" We'll be on our best behavior," Brown said. "We're moms, we'll have our children there. We're not going to be confrontational by any means."
Copyright 2000 Associated Press.
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited August 31, 2000).]
http://www2.startribune.com/stOnLine/cgi-bin/article?thisStory=82426523
Gun control debate to fire up annual bridge walk
By JOHN FLESHER / Associated Press Writer
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) -- An eyeful of breathtaking scenery and an earful about gun control.
Both are in store for Monday' s 43rd annual Labor Day walk across the Mackinac Bridge, the 5-mile span linking the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula.
Women from several Upper Midwestern states who participated in the Million Mom March in Washington, D.C., last May are bringing their campaign for tougher gun laws to the bridge walk.
" We're trying in whatever way we can to get the message across that we're still here, still very serious about our goal of commonsense gun legislation," said Susan Brown, a coordinator from Grosse Pointe Park.
Countering their message will be members of pro-gun groups.
"We want to focus on educating people ... emphasizing that it' s better to have our families protected than left vulnerable, " said Pat Alzady, spokeswoman for Second Amendment Sisters and the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners.
Both groups hope to have a booth in Mackinaw City near the south end of the bridge, Alzady said Thursday. Some members will distribute literature while others join the trek.
Members of the Million Mom March organization will congregate in St. Ignace, on the bridge's north side, Brown said. They'll make the crossing together, wearing T-shirts and carrying signs.
She expects about 1, 000 supporters from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Tens of thousands take part in the annual walk, the only time when the bridge is open to pedestrians.
It' s billed as a nonpartisan, family-oriented gathering, but often carries political overtones -- especially during election years.
The governor traditionally leads the walk and candidates for office often show up, trailed by placard-waving supporters. Former President Bush joined in while campaigning for re-election in 1992.
Hank Lotoszinski, executive secretary of the Mackinac Bridge Authority, said the agency prefers that "political issues and concerns be left at home for this event."
Still, he said walkers can support whatever cause they wish as long as they don't obstruct others. Politically oriented T-shirts and small placards are fine, but not large banners or bulky signs, he said.
Both sides in the gun debate say they consider the bridge walk fair game for promoting their views but aren't looking for trouble.
" We'll be on our best behavior," Brown said. "We're moms, we'll have our children there. We're not going to be confrontational by any means."
Copyright 2000 Associated Press.
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited August 31, 2000).]