Sunday, May 2, 1999 Published at 10:45 GMT 11:45 UK
Gun lobby defiant
Thousands of anti-gun demonstrators protested against the NRA convention
The National Rifle Assocation (NRA) remained defiant on Saturday as its head, the veteran actor Charlton Heston, said the organisation was not the villain in the tragedy at Columbine High School.
Thousands of opponents circled the convention hotel, some carrying signs that read "Shame on the NRA" and "NRA, Pusher of Child Killer Machines".
The NRA cut the meeting from three days to one and eliminated a gun exhibit.
The movie star told about 2,500 cheering supporters that gun owners were being unfairly blamed. "We will not be silent or be told, 'Do not come here, you are not welcome in your own land'," he said.
He accused the Clinton administration and the media of using the Columbine killings to push an agenda.
"I am here today because my son would want me to be here. If my son was alive, he would be here, too," Mauser said.
In the run up to the convention President Clinton urged Mr Heston to relax opposition to gun controls. In a reference to Mr Heston's 1960s film role as Moses, he said the actor should lead his people into a promised land of the NRA being used for good.