But since the carnage at Columbine High School in Colorado more than one year ago, where 15 people died including the two teen-age killers, members of Congress have introduced dozens of gun control bills but not one of them has become law. The National Rifle Association and pro-gun lawmakers argue that there are already more than 20,000 federal and state gun laws, and the answer is better enforcement. They point out that the two killers at Columbine broke 19 state and federal laws. Still, the silence from the halls of Congress will be amplified from now until November if the political commentators and pollsters are right about gun safety and gun control being the sleeping giant of politics 2000. The Million Mom March on Mother's Day 2000 in Washington and in cities all over the country is a prime example of the increasingly louder call for Congress to react.
Marchers are sure to emphasize that most states have relatively limited gun control laws.
We will press our legislators until November. Bono supports trigger locks and a background check of all purchases at gun shows. She supports banning large ammunition clips and not allowing anyone under 21 to purchase a gun. At the same time, she says Congress needs to find out why all the laws now on the books aren't working or aren't being enforced. There are people who truly want to solve this issue, and there are others who don't necessarily want to solve the problem as much as they want to win elections.