A sea of black clothing flooded Carleton College last Tuesday as acting icon Charlton HestonŐs deep, bellowing voice resonated through a packed gymnasium.

As President of the National Rifle Association of America, Heston faced much disapproval as well as support from the audience of roughly 1,200 individuals. The local college Republican chapter welcomed Heston to Northfield while many pacifists held protests.

One hundred and seventy eight pairs of empty shoes lined the sidewalk representing the number of deaths by handguns in Minnesota annually. The aisles and walls were plastered with signs reading everything from "Let my people live" and "Obey your own commandments, Moses" to "GunŐs donŐt kill people: Apes do."

HestonŐs speech, lasting no more than fifteen minutes, focused on the importance of freedom and the ability to act without interference or control from others. Heston gave an inspirational and emotional plea to the audience to "É vote freedom first" and discussed that "Freedom has never been in greater peril than it is today."

While comparing the audience to "modern day equals of early revolutionaries" Heston explained future generations are now "fighting for survival" instead of fighting to create a nation. Many outraged Carleton students held a vigil outside of HestonŐs book signing that was held directly after his speech.

76 year-old Heston has played roles in motion pictures including "Planet of the Apes," "Ben-Hur," and the eight-hour-long classic "The Ten Commandments."