Million Moms head to Washington for gun control

During the last campaign in 2,000 more than 750,000 women, led by celebrity Rosie O’Donnell, demonstrated in the capital under the banner Million Mom March.

This year the march is calling on Congress to tighten control of assault weapons like those used in the massacre at the Columbine High School.

Holding a rival rally in the capital on the same day at the same time is the Second Amendment Sisters, a women’s group in favour of gun freedom and backed by the National Rifle Association.

Activists say every day 12 children in the United States are killed in gun incidents; 43% of homes have both guns and children and 23% of those guns are loaded at any given time.

A gun in the home is 43 times more likely to kill a family member or a friend than it is to kill an intruder.

But the powerful pro-gun lobby the National Rifle Association will defend the Second Amendment which enshrines the right of Americans to bear arms.

Mary Leigh Blek, president emeritus of the Million Mom March: "Since our last march, 120,000 Americans - almost 14,000 of them children - have died from gun violence. We are deeply disappointed that Congress hasn’t made progress - and instead is trying to turn back the clock on the progress we’ve made. We are resolute, and we won’t rest until our children are safer."

"There are war casualties all around us. We need to stand up and say we’ve had enough," said Shikha Hamilton, spokeswoman for the march.

"America’s mothers have had enough. We are calling a timeout in the war against the next generation, our children."

But a spokesman for Second Amendment Sisters said: "We came out in numbers against them last time and we’ll do it again. Citizens have the right to protect themselves and their families against criminals. We actively promote the safe use and storage of guns, tighter control is not required."