Columbine dad speaks out in D.C., arrested later

Joe Rominiecki, Scripps Howard News Service

Published April 6, 2005 at midnight

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WASHINGTON - Tom Mauser, whose son, Daniel, was killed at Columbine High School, joined gun industry opponents on Capitol Hill Tuesday to denounce a bill to protect gun manufacturers and sellers from certain lawsuits.

Later, he traveled to the National Rifle Association headquarters in suburban Fairfax County, Va., where he was arrested on a trespassing charge and released, he said

Members of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence held a news conference and unveiled a television ad that urges Congress to reject the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

It has been on the Senate calendar since February for a possible vote. Sponsored by Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., it has 53 co-sponsors in the Senate and 199 in the House.

Supporters and opponents disagree about the effect of the bill.

"To give blanket immunity to people who have repeatedly sold guns to criminals is an outrage that most Americans would not accept," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

Kelly Hobbs, spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, said that the bill does not provide a "blanket immunity" against lawsuits.

"That is absolutely not true," she said. "If a firearm is defective, or if a manufacturer or dealer breaks the law, a victim will still be able to file suit."

Several families of victims of gun violence spoke, including Mauser.

"I'm outraged at the nerve of the gun lobby and some members of Congress," he said. "I'm here because I'm a victim of gun violence who doesn't like to have his rights taken away."

Mauser said he went to the NRA headquarters in hopes of receiving a response to a letter he wrote to the group shortly after his son's death. He arrived to locked doors and no response from anyone at the property.

He said he remained there, carrying a sign with a picture of his son and the words, "My son Daniel died at Columbine. Why hasn't the NRA answered my letter?"

After about 30 minutes, Mauser said, Fairfax police arrived and arrested him for trespassing. He was later released. Fairfax police could not be reached late Tuesday.

It was similar to his visit to the NRA headquarters on June 13, 2001. Charges for trespassing that day were dropped two months later.

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