http://www.gazette.net/200101/bethesda/news/38575-1.html
Moms forgo protest, plan gun teach-in
by Myra Mensh Patner
Staff Writer
Jan. 3, 2001
Both sides in the continuing dispute over gun shows at the county fairgrounds
are
moving to avoid a repeat of the confrontation that marred the last show in
October.
The local chapter of the Million Mom March has decided to not conduct another
protest during Saturday's show at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center
and
Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg. Instead, it will stage a gun safety teach-in and
family fair
at the nearby Johns Hopkins University's Montgomery County campus.
Meanwhile, the man who runs the gun shows at the fairgrounds has pleaded with
pro-gun activists to avoid further confrontations, saying they will lead to
the end of his
decade of gun shows there. The activists said they are reconsidering their
counter-demonstration strategy.
"Should there be a repeat of anything resembling the events of October 2000,
gun
shows at the Gaithersburg fairgrounds will be finished," states an e-mail
sent out by
Frank Krasner, president of Silverado Promotions, which stages gun shows at
fairgrounds around the state.
A leader of October's pro-gun demonstration forwarded the e-mail to The
Gazette.
Krasner wrote that the actions of pro-gun activists who yelled at and
photographed
the Million Moms and forced them off the sidewalk alienated fairgrounds board
members through negative publicity.
"The counter-protests have burned an indelible impression on the people who
have
the absolute say over whether gun shows may continue," Krasner wrote.
Krasner's gun shows came under attack last year from local politicians who
charged
they were not appropriate for the privately owned but publicly subsidized
fairgrounds.
The fair board has received more than $1 million in public money in the past
two
years for improvements to the site.
Politicians said they are not opposed to Krasner, who is credited by State
Police
officials with running tight shows and reporting suspicious or illegal
activities. They
say they oppose gun shows in general.
Krasner has declined comment. His 2001 schedule includes Saturday's show and
another show next October at the fairgrounds.
State Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Chevy Chase and other politicians
who favor
gun control have asked fair officials to voluntarily end the gun shows. Fair
officials
have so far refused.
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) asked the City of Gaithersburg to pass
a
law banning guns shows at places where the public gathers, such as the
fairgrounds.
County Council President Blair G. Ewing (D-At large) of Silver Spring also
wants gun
shows ended and has promised public debate on the issue.
Tierney O'Neil of Chevy Chase, who founded the Montgomery chapter of the
Million
Mom March, said her group decided not to demonstrate at Saturday's gun show
because the weather is too cold and because the group decided it was more
productive to educate the public about gun violence.
The teach-in and family fair will take place Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the
Montgomery County campus of Johns Hopkins University, 9601 Medical Center
Drive,
Rockville. The university has called for gun regulation through its Center
for Gun
Policy and Research.
The free fair will feature speakers, including Ewing and Carole Price, the
Carroll
County woman who lost a young son to gunfire and who now leads Marylanders
Against Handguns.
The event will feature refreshments, children's workshops on how to fashion
toy guns
into art, and live entertainment.
The gun show will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
Sunday. For a $5 entry fee, show-goers will see new and antique firearms,
handguns, rifles, shotguns, military hardware, assault weapons, bows and
arrows,
knives and ammunition from all over the world, holsters and other gun
paraphernalia.
Pro-gun activists have not decided whether to appear at the teach-in, said
Brian
Strauss of Germantown, who helped found the Maryland Tyranny Response Team, a
chapter of a Colorado-based group dedicated to disrupting Million Mom March
activities around the country.
Strauss said there may be less need to demonstrate against gun control. "With
the
new president [George W. Bush], we are going to see a little more sanity, so
maybe
it's not so important anymore," Strauss said.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
i never said that RKBA was not important
Moms forgo protest, plan gun teach-in
by Myra Mensh Patner
Staff Writer
Jan. 3, 2001
Both sides in the continuing dispute over gun shows at the county fairgrounds
are
moving to avoid a repeat of the confrontation that marred the last show in
October.
The local chapter of the Million Mom March has decided to not conduct another
protest during Saturday's show at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center
and
Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg. Instead, it will stage a gun safety teach-in and
family fair
at the nearby Johns Hopkins University's Montgomery County campus.
Meanwhile, the man who runs the gun shows at the fairgrounds has pleaded with
pro-gun activists to avoid further confrontations, saying they will lead to
the end of his
decade of gun shows there. The activists said they are reconsidering their
counter-demonstration strategy.
"Should there be a repeat of anything resembling the events of October 2000,
gun
shows at the Gaithersburg fairgrounds will be finished," states an e-mail
sent out by
Frank Krasner, president of Silverado Promotions, which stages gun shows at
fairgrounds around the state.
A leader of October's pro-gun demonstration forwarded the e-mail to The
Gazette.
Krasner wrote that the actions of pro-gun activists who yelled at and
photographed
the Million Moms and forced them off the sidewalk alienated fairgrounds board
members through negative publicity.
"The counter-protests have burned an indelible impression on the people who
have
the absolute say over whether gun shows may continue," Krasner wrote.
Krasner's gun shows came under attack last year from local politicians who
charged
they were not appropriate for the privately owned but publicly subsidized
fairgrounds.
The fair board has received more than $1 million in public money in the past
two
years for improvements to the site.
Politicians said they are not opposed to Krasner, who is credited by State
Police
officials with running tight shows and reporting suspicious or illegal
activities. They
say they oppose gun shows in general.
Krasner has declined comment. His 2001 schedule includes Saturday's show and
another show next October at the fairgrounds.
State Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Chevy Chase and other politicians
who favor
gun control have asked fair officials to voluntarily end the gun shows. Fair
officials
have so far refused.
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) asked the City of Gaithersburg to pass
a
law banning guns shows at places where the public gathers, such as the
fairgrounds.
County Council President Blair G. Ewing (D-At large) of Silver Spring also
wants gun
shows ended and has promised public debate on the issue.
Tierney O'Neil of Chevy Chase, who founded the Montgomery chapter of the
Million
Mom March, said her group decided not to demonstrate at Saturday's gun show
because the weather is too cold and because the group decided it was more
productive to educate the public about gun violence.
The teach-in and family fair will take place Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the
Montgomery County campus of Johns Hopkins University, 9601 Medical Center
Drive,
Rockville. The university has called for gun regulation through its Center
for Gun
Policy and Research.
The free fair will feature speakers, including Ewing and Carole Price, the
Carroll
County woman who lost a young son to gunfire and who now leads Marylanders
Against Handguns.
The event will feature refreshments, children's workshops on how to fashion
toy guns
into art, and live entertainment.
The gun show will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
Sunday. For a $5 entry fee, show-goers will see new and antique firearms,
handguns, rifles, shotguns, military hardware, assault weapons, bows and
arrows,
knives and ammunition from all over the world, holsters and other gun
paraphernalia.
Pro-gun activists have not decided whether to appear at the teach-in, said
Brian
Strauss of Germantown, who helped found the Maryland Tyranny Response Team, a
chapter of a Colorado-based group dedicated to disrupting Million Mom March
activities around the country.
Strauss said there may be less need to demonstrate against gun control. "With
the
new president [George W. Bush], we are going to see a little more sanity, so
maybe
it's not so important anymore," Strauss said.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
i never said that RKBA was not important
