7/15/2005

If the French Embassy isn't careful, this could result in a protest

Party poopers: An 80th-birthday party at the French Embassy for syndicated columnist Art Buchwald has a group of women up in arms.

Set for Sept. 28, the black-tie dinner (tickets are $250) will double as a fundraiser for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, an organization Buchwald supports. The Second Amendment Sisters, whose motto is "Self Defense Is a Basic Human Right," got wind of the party and sent a letter of protest to the embassy.

Art Buchwald's birthday party at the French Embassy -- which doubles as a fundraiser for a gun control organization -- came under fire from the Second Amendment Sisters. (By Michael Lutzky -- The Washington Post) "It's a slap in the face to each and every gun-holding American that the French ambassador would do this," Sisters co-founder Mari Thompson told The Post yesterday. She said her group is "outraged" that the French Embassy would host a party for an organization "whose main purpose is to disarm American citizens."

Brady Campaign spokesman Peter Hamm countered: "It seems to me that these people have too much time on their hands to complain about a venue where folks are getting together to celebrate a birthday party."

He added, "It's not something that we should increase global tensions over." Cake, anyone?"