Gun show at fairgrounds also site of dueling demonstrations
by Myra Mensh Patner
Staff Writer
Oct. 25, 2000
A Saturday morning protest of about 30 women and
children against the gun show at the Montgomery County
fairgrounds in Gaithersburg lasted less than two hours,
disbanding after a counter-demonstration of gun rights
activists stationed itself next to the group.
Accounts of the event differ.
"The whole atmosphere was very uncomfortable. It was
on the verge of being a problem," said attorney James
Clifford, who represents the fairgrounds.
Clifford said he observed the demonstrations and
recommended protestors against the gun show disband
after members of the counter-demonstration yelled at and
photographed them.
Children of protestors were crying and tensions were
escalating, Clifford said.
"We had hoped to keep them separate at different
entrances," Clifford said.
Tierney O'Neil, who organized the gun show protest as a
leader of the Montgomery chapter of the Million Mom
March, said her group had planned a peaceful demonstration that would be
non-confrontational.
Gun rights activist Beth Caherty, who took part in the counter-demonstration of about
60 people, said she heard no yelling nor saw any tension.
"It was a kind of a spontaneous gathering of people who had been shopping at the
gun show," Caherty said. "I saw nothing. It was a joyous group of women, children
and men happily and joyfully celebrating their right to free speech and to owning legal
firearms."
Caherty acknowledged that the guns-rights group placed itself close to the protestors
and many were taking photos of the protestors.
That was a protective measure, she said.
"There were plenty of our people there with cameras, yes, to make sure their
members were safe," Caherty said.
http://www.gazette.net/200043/chevy/news/30329-1.html
by Myra Mensh Patner
Staff Writer
Oct. 25, 2000
A Saturday morning protest of about 30 women and
children against the gun show at the Montgomery County
fairgrounds in Gaithersburg lasted less than two hours,
disbanding after a counter-demonstration of gun rights
activists stationed itself next to the group.
Accounts of the event differ.
"The whole atmosphere was very uncomfortable. It was
on the verge of being a problem," said attorney James
Clifford, who represents the fairgrounds.
Clifford said he observed the demonstrations and
recommended protestors against the gun show disband
after members of the counter-demonstration yelled at and
photographed them.
Children of protestors were crying and tensions were
escalating, Clifford said.
"We had hoped to keep them separate at different
entrances," Clifford said.
Tierney O'Neil, who organized the gun show protest as a
leader of the Montgomery chapter of the Million Mom
March, said her group had planned a peaceful demonstration that would be
non-confrontational.
Gun rights activist Beth Caherty, who took part in the counter-demonstration of about
60 people, said she heard no yelling nor saw any tension.
"It was a kind of a spontaneous gathering of people who had been shopping at the
gun show," Caherty said. "I saw nothing. It was a joyous group of women, children
and men happily and joyfully celebrating their right to free speech and to owning legal
firearms."
Caherty acknowledged that the guns-rights group placed itself close to the protestors
and many were taking photos of the protestors.
That was a protective measure, she said.
"There were plenty of our people there with cameras, yes, to make sure their
members were safe," Caherty said.
http://www.gazette.net/200043/chevy/news/30329-1.html
